LiAngelo Ball Says $3K a Month in the G League Pushed Him to Quit Basketball [Video]

LiAngelo Ball is opening up about the moment he knew basketball was no longer for him, and why rap made more sense for his future.

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During a recent appearance on the “BagFuel” podcast, the youngest Ball brother revealed the financial reality of his time in the NBA G League.

“I was in the G League, that’s 3K a month as a grown man,” Ball said, explaining that the pay made it clear the grind wasn’t worth it long-term.

After bouncing between the G League and a short stint in Mexico, Ball’s career path shifted when his music started to generate serious money.

“When I got paid from music, it wasn’t a hard decision. I wasn’t contemplating like ‘Damn I gotta hoop,’” he admitted.

That pivot paid off quickly. His debut single “Tweaker” went viral, leading to a record deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group. NBA insider Shams Charania reported the deal is worth up to $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, a massive leap from his G League checks. The breakout success also earned him a spot on the 2025 XXL Freshman list.

Still, not everything has been a slam dunk. Ball’s debut album, released last month, didn’t chart on the Billboard 200 despite strong anticipation. The project includes “Wine N Dine,” a track many believe addresses accusations from his ex, Nikki Mudarris, that he’s a “deadbeat daddy.”

On it, Ball raps, “They kick me when I’m down, so can you pick me up? / Say I’m a deadbeat daddy who don’t give no f**ks / Say I’m an ugly soul who just up and run / Talk to me dumb like I don’t amount to nothin’.”