Former Los Angeles Lakers star point guard Lonzo Ball, now a Chicago Bulls backup, had harsh words for his younger brother LiAngelo during a recent appearance on the power forward’s podcast WNBA All -Star Chicago Sky Angel Reese, “Unapologetically Angel.”

Lonzo, selected by his hometown Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of UCLA, didn’t hold back.

LiAngelo, 26, is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard/small forward. He was briefly enrolled at Lonzo’s alma mater, but was kicked off the team after a theft incident during a preseason trip overseas, ahead of what would have been his freshman season in 2017 -18. He then played for Lithuanian club Prienai. Their father, LaVar, founded the Junior Basketball Association and enrolled him in their club, the Los Angeles Ballers.

In February this year, LiAngelo appeared in two matches for Mexican club Astros de Jalisco, but left the club after suffering a left ankle ligament injury. Lonzo believes playing overseas is the best path forward for his younger brother.

“I get called (to play) overseas,” LiAngelo said. “If I had the right setup, I would go there… because I have to wait a little longer for the G League.”

“I feel like the opportunity won’t be the same for him in the G League,” Lonzo said. “Just because of his process and how long it lasted. Just to be realistic. I’m his big brother, I have to, you know, tell him the truth, you know what I’m saying? I think his way is abroad. He I should have been abroad to kill him.”

LiAngelo countered, believing that if he ever got a meaningful run in the G League, he would have been able to prove that he truly belonged at the NBA-adjacent level.

“It’s pretty fair too, overseas is good,” LiAngeleo said. “But listen: I feel like if I go to the G League, I’m going to carry myself, I just need my chance. If they give me a chance, I’m going to do my thing.”

LiAngelo managed to hang on with the Greensboro Swarm, the G League program for his younger brother LaMelo’s NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, from 2021-23. Through 31 NBAGL regular season games with the Swarm (only six starts), LiAngelo averaged 4.4 points with .382/.333/.500 shooting times and 1.1 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per night.

“That’s my problem. I feel like you got your chance in Summer League with the Hornets,” Lonzo added. “Are you going to sit on the (G League) bench, or are you going to go overseas to a nice place and go get 30?”

Lonzo played for the Lakers from 2017 to 2019, before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. He became an elite 3-D guard during his time there, but had injury issues. He missed most of his four seasons in Chicago due to three successive knee injuries to repair a torn meniscus.

More Lakers: Latest information on the asking price for the Veteran’s Jerami Grant