LiAngelo Ball Leaves G League for $13M Music Deal with Def Jam

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’.”