Sean M. Haffey/Getty LaVar Ball downplayed President Donald Trump's role in getting three UCLA basketball players home after they were arrested on charges of shoplifting in China. Trump reportedly made a plea to President Xi Jinping to get the Chinese government involved in the case. The players thanked Trump upon returning home. LaVar Ball on Friday downplayed US President Donald Trump's role in helping three UCLA basketball players return home after being arrested on charges of shoplifting in China. Trump, while on a trip to Asia, reportedly made a personal plea to President Xi Jinping for the Chinese government to get involved in the case, which included LaVar's son LiAngelo, Rich Hill, and Cody Riley. LaVar, however, minimized Trump's role to ESPN's Arash Markazi. "Who?" Ball said of Trump's involvement.