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'Who?': LaVar dismisses Trump's role in helping free LiAngelo

ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP / Getty

LiAngelo Ball may have shown gratitude for president Donald Trump's part in bringing him back to American soil, but his father doesn't seem to share that sentiment.

"Who?" the Big Baller Brand's LaVar Ball said to ESPN's Arash Markazi when asked about Trump's involvement. "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."

Related - LaVar expects to run into Trump: 'We'll be good'

LiAngelo, along with fellow UCLA freshmen Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, issued an apology Wednesday after being detained in China for allegedly shoplifting sunglasses at a mall during a recent team excursion.

This came after Trump tweeted earlier that day wondering whether the players would reach out and thank him.

Related - Trump to suspended UCLA trio: 'You're welcome'

The players were released on bail Nov. 8, and have since been suspended indefinitely by head coach Steve Alford.

"As long as my boy's back here, I'm fine," LaVar added. "I'm happy with how things were handled. A lot of people like to say a lot of things that they thought happened over there. Like I told him, 'They try to make a big deal out of nothing sometimes.'

"I'm from L.A. I've seen a lot worse things happen than a guy taking some glasses. My son has built up enough character that one bad decision doesn't define him."

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