In an amazing twist, none of the three major shoe companies will be signing Lonzo Ball to a deal. One reason is the family wanted one of the major shoe companies to license “Big Baller Brand,” according to ESPN.
“We’re looking for co-branding, a true partner. But they’re not ready for that because they’re not used to that model. But hey, the taxi industry wasn’t ready for Uber, either,” Ball told ESPN.
Unfortunately, the chicken does not come before the egg. Michael Jordan had to do big things on the court, sell shoes with NIKE, in order to get “Jordan Brand” rolling. While Lonzo Ball could be special in the NBA, he has to prove that he can play and also sell shoes. Those two things are not always synonymous. Ask Steph Curry.
At one point, LaVar was talking about a billion dollar shoe deal for his three boys, which sounded crazy at the time, and still sounds even crazier today. According to Hall of Famer Tracy Mcgrady, when talking about LaVar’s three sons NBA chances, on ESPN’s The Jump, Mcgrady said LaVar has “One and a possible.” That one is Lonzo Ball.
I do respect LaVar Ball and his vision, but he needs to slow it down a little. Why would Nike, Under Armour, or Adidas want to co-brand with a player who might turn out to be an average player?
I think LaVar Ball is making a big mistake. You don’t have to sign with one of the sneaker companies forever. Sign with one the major shoe companies and continue to grow your brand.
LaVar is a visionary, and average people have a hard time understanding a visionary.
However, not all visions come to true.
We’ll wait for Plan B LaVar.
