Zion vs. LaMelo: What You Missed

Court 5 in Las Vegas’s Cashman Center played host to what is being called the biggest game in AAU basketball history Wednesday night. Thousands of people were turned down at the door for the head-to-head meeting of two high school rock stars, Zion Williamson and LaMelo Ball, in an Adidas Summer Championships game between Williamson’s SC Supreme and Ball’s Big Ballers squad.

Many of you basketball fans stayed up to watch the game live on Facebook, but for those who didn’t break curfew to watch teenagers hoop, here’s a rundown of what you missed:

The game was almost called due to the madness. Tournament officials discussed postponing the game due to the overwhelming attendance courtside and beyond. The crowd flooded into the lobby, keeping many college coaches from entering, and an estimated 1,500 more waited outside the front doors.

LeBron James was encouraged to stay away. Stars like Andrew Wiggins, Damian Lillard, Eric Gordon, Jamal Murray and Thon Maker were able to find a seat for the game, but LeBron James was told it would be in everyone’s best interest if he stayed away as the crowd was already out of control. James had planned to attend until all hell broke loose.

Las Vegas Police Department had to step in. The game was eventually able to be played when LVPD evacuated everyone who wasn’t a coach or tournament official or already seated in the gym.

A Facebook live feed had over 800,000 total views. As many as 80,000 people were watching at one time, and close to 50,000 were still watching as the game ended just shy of 2 a.m. on the East Coast.

Coaches couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self. Gonzaga’s Mark Few compared it to the draw of LeBron James’ games in the early 2000s.

SC Supreme’s head coach held his sleeping son on the sideline.

LaMelo Ball was typical LaMelo Ball. He pulled up from long range after crossing halfcourt, only to miss the

"LaMelo Ball is always open" – LaMelo Ball pic.twitter.com/9DuzXThYuN

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 27, 2017

Ball went 3-for-12 from outside.

LaVar Ball got a technical foul. My guess is LaVar wanted to make sure the spotlight was still on him and not on the actual game.

A player from another AAU team snuck into the Big Ballers’ locker room. Dexter Shouse from Indiana’s EG10 team wanted to see LaVar Ball in person, so he snuck into the locker room prior to the game. “I have to see LaVar, G,” he said, according to Gary Parrish’s story.

Zion Williamson sealed the win for SC Supreme with a LeBron-like dunk.

Zion Williamson > LaMelo Ball pic.twitter.com/E0Rpi49tDx

— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) July 27, 2017

The good people at Overtime have a full highlight package.

It could happen again in January. ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reports there is a rematch in the works for the Hoophall Classic.