Lonzo Ball Says Brother LiAngelo 'Made a Mistake,' Must Learn from China Arrest

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball spoke about the return of his brother, LiAngelo Ball, to the United States following his detainment in China on shoplifting charges. 

"Nice to have him back," he said, per Tania Ganfuli of Los Angeles Times. "Obviously he made a mistake, but just gotta learn from it and move on."

Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were all arrested during the team's trip to China. The school's athletic director, Dan Guerrero, confirmed that the charges had been dropped but the players admitted guilt in the incident, per Thuc Nhi Nguyen‏ of InsideSoCal.com.

Guerrero also confirmed that the trio shoplifted from three different stores and would be suspended indefinitely for their actions, according to Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.com.

"I'm sorry for stealing from the stores in China," LiAngelo Ball noted, per the Associated Press. "I've learned my lesson from this big mistake and I'm a hundred percent sure I'll never make a mistake like this again. It's going to make a better person from here on out."

The incident took on enough of a national scope that President Donald Trump spoke with China's President,  Xi Jinping, about resolving the matter and allowing the players to return to the United States.

Trump also tweeted about the ordeal earlier on Wednesday: 

Ball was joined by his two teammates in thanking Trump for his efforts in their press conference Thursday: 

UCLA and head coach Steve Alford left open the possibility that the players could return this season, however, noting that they wouldn't be permitted to travel on road games or dress for home contests, according to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post, while the university further reviewed the incident.

"They will have to earn their way back," Alford said, per Chris Chavez of SI.com.