Category: The Balls

LaVar Ball says family considered signing with Klutch Sports before choosing Roc Nation

Prior to joining Jay-Z and Roc Nation, LaVar Ball revealed he and his family considered signing with Klutch Sports and Rich Paul.

For the third time in nearly as many years, the Ball family switched agencies. This change was the most high-profile yet for the family as they left Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and joined Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

The move was a bit of a surprise as the family has remained linked to Klutch Sports even prior to signing with CAA. Lonzo Ball and LeBron James’ relationship was the main link tying the family to Klutch prior to joining CAA and this time around, LaVar Ball’s relationship with Rich Paul served as more fuel to the fire.

During a podcast appearance on Complex’s Load Management, Ball talked about the process of joining Roc Nation and whether he and the family considered Klutch.

“I think you have to feel it out and see what it is. It might have been Klutch. I still talk to Rich Paul. He’s a good friend. But I got to see what’s best for my boys and their situation for what we’re trying to do.”

This was similar reasoning Ball recently gave as to why the family joined Roc Nation. Ball and the family were focused on a company that put their interests first while alluding to that not happening at CAA.

There are questions as to how much that could happen at Klutch, either. Aside from LeBron James, Klutch hasn’t had many other clients with ventures outside of basketball. That runs in direct contrast to the Ball family, who already notably have a successful reality Facebook series in “Ball in the Family.”

With Roc Nation, the family will be a priority with a company that has its hands in multiple avenues that could pave the way for more opportunities for the family moving forward.

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Lonzo, LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball share Instagram posts dedicated to mother Tina

Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball all took the time on Sunday to share an Instagram post dedicated to their mother Tina.

Tina Ball’s journey over the last nearly half-dozen years since the Ball family entered the national spotlight has been an inspiring run. Shortly after Lonzo burst onto the scene at UCLA, Tina suffered a stroke behind the scenes that has had a long-lasting effect in the years since.

Tina’s journey through recovery has largely been captured by the camera crew of the family’s Facebook series “Ball in the Family.” Her family has been a vocal supporting group during her recovery.

On Sunday, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo took the time each to share on Instagram a post dedicated to Tina on Mother’s Day.

View this post on Instagram

MAMA‼️❤️

A post shared by Lonzo Ball (@zo) on

Lonzo also took the time to send a Mother’s Day shoutout on his Instagram story to his two grandmothers as well with a throwback picture to his childhood years.

The brothers often share pictures and Instagram posts dedicated to their mother, whether it be for Mother’s Day, a birthday or an anniversary.

LaVar Ball talks decision to join Roc Nation: ‘They’re doing exactly what we want to do’

The Ball family made a surprising move to align with Roc Nation Sports. LaVar Ball recently explained the decision in joining the agency.

LaVar Ball and the Ball family made a bit of a surprising move with their decision to join Roc Nation Sports after leaving Creative Artists Agency (CAA) earlier this year. While some expected the family to align with Klutch Sports, Jay-Z’s agency landed the Balls in what could be the first of multiple moves of the two sides linking up.

In an interview with TMZ, Ball talked about the thinking behind the family joining Roc Nation Sports.

“I think you have to go through different agencies to see the one that you need that’s going to have the same mindset as you. I feel like Roc Nation is trying to move in the direction we’re moving in.

But like I said…Roc Nation wants to do exactly what me and my boys want to do.”

The family has jumped around agencies multiple times in recent years. Following the Alan Foster laundering allegations, Lonzo Ball parted ways then agent Harrison Gaines in an unrelated move. Lonzo then joined CAA along with brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, but that partnership lasted roughly a year before the family left to join Roc Nation Sports.

But the Roc Nation partnership already has a different feel to it. LaVar never had the things to say about CAA that he has said about Roc Nation. With that in mind, it could be the start of a blossoming partnership between the two parties.

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Big Baller Brand, Puma collaboration could be in works, says LaVar Ball

With the Ball family aligning with Roc Nation Sports, a collaboration with PUMA could be the next move for Big Baller Brand.

The Ball family’s decision to join Roc Nation Sports was a move that could have multiple ripple effects. One of the most obvious connections, though, featured PUMA and a potential deal with LaMelo Ball.

Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation, also serves as the leader of the basketball division of PUMA. Ball, expected to be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, is a sneaker free agent that has been fielding offers from companies.

Naturally, the connection made between the two parties is that Ball could join PUMA. And that move could see him bring Big Baller Brand with him.

During an interview with TMZ, LaVar Ball talked about the possibility of a Big Baller Brand and PUMA collaboration.

“That could be. See, that’s the good thing about dealing with Roc Nation. The possibilities are unlimited…If everything goes right, this thing could be explosive. They said something that I liked which is ‘LaVar, we want to change the game. We want to do something special.’ That terminology right there means I’m supposed to be with you guys because my boys are special.”

Ball also cleared the air on how big Baller Brand is operating as they move, confirming he’s still in charge and the brand will move together as a family going forward.

“I’m always going to be in control of Big Baller Brand. Like I said, my boys are always going to be with me. We’re going to make moves together. That’s what people don’t understand. We don’t care how they think. They can try to split us up or do whatever. We’re always going to be a family brand. Ain’t nothing they can say or do to make us divide.”

A PUMA-Big Baller Brand collaboration could be an interesting move for both sides. While PUMA has stepped up its presence in the NBA in recent years, it’s still lacking a high-profile figure and star appeal that other brands have.

Big Baller Brand, meanwhile, has largely floundered in the last year as LaMelo and Lonzo have distanced from the brand. While the company has the name-brand appeal, it lacks the physical product or infrastructure to capitalize on that popularity.

A collaboration between the two would be a bigger risk for PUMA but could combine their infrastructure with Big Baller Brand’s name appeal. If it pays off, it could be a huge win for both parties. But all of this is making the assumption LaMelo signs with PUMA as well.

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Report: Ball brothers to sign with Roc Nation, Raymond Brothers

After multiple weeks of searching for representation, the Ball family will sign with Roc Nation and Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation’s President of Basketball.

After multiple weeks of searching for representation, the Ball family will sign with Roc Nation and Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation’s President of Basketball, as reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Monday.

Givony spoke with Jermaine Jackson, LaMelo Ball’s manager, on the decision to sign with Roc Nation.

“This was a family decision. This is now an extended family. They put together a beautiful game plan with Jay-Z. The basketball game is about to change. They are going to create something totally new.”

Roc Nation Sports was founded by music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was founded in 2013, kickstarted by Robinson Cano’s signing with the New York Yankees. Since that date, it has grown to represent athletes such as Kyrie Irving, Markelle Fultz and Saquon Barkley.

Jackson and LaMelo appeared to have held a meeting with Roc Nation in late February. Pictures posted by Jackson to a secondary Instagram account showed Carter’s private jet.

The three brothers were formerly represented by Creative Artists Agency. The trio left the agency in early March. Some reports suggested that Leon Rose, who potentially represented LaMelo, leaving to take a front office position with the Knicks led to departure of the family.

The move to Roc Nation comes at a critical time with the family. Lonzo can begin negotiating an extension in the upcoming off-season. LiAngelo, meanwhile, will be looking at potential Summer League and G League deals in the off-season and into next season as well. And, most obvious, LaMelo will be one of the top draft picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

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Did Chino Hills produce the greatest high school basketball team ever?

Onyeka Okongwu is set to join LaMelo and Lonzo Ball in the NBA, furthering the case for Chino Hills being the best high school team ever.

Onyeka Okongwu’s announcement of his intention to enter the 2020 NBA Draft after a standout freshman season at USC sparked an interesting discussion on Wednesday. Okongwu figures to be the third former member of the 2015-16 Chino Hills side to be drafted into the NBA with LaMelo Ball joining him this year and Lonzo preceding the pair by a handful of years.

That trio, though, may not be the only members of that Huskies squad to make the NBA. LiAngelo Ball carved out a role in the G League prior to the cancelation of the developmental league. Eli Scott, the fifth starter of that state championship team, excelled with Loyola Marymount as a junior this season, earning Second Team All-West Coast Conference honors.

Following Okonguw’s announcement, Lonzo’s manager Darren Moore tweeted a question that was quote-tweeted by LaMelo and retweeted by Lonzo and sparked an interesting debate.

It’s always tough to compare any sports teams across generations and decades. Given simply the vast amount of high schools across the country, it’s near impossible to compare the greatest high school teams ever. But the case for Chino Hills and what makes them great can be made.

First, the in-season resume speaks largely for itself. The Huskies finished a perfect 35-0 with a state title. The team averaged an eye-popping 97.9 points per game and eclipsed the century mark a staggering 18 times.

It wasn’t a cupcake schedule they did it again. Chino Hills beat Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, ranked No. 3, during the holidays. They ran perennial power Mater Dei out of the gym in the state tournament.

Now, the team already will have a majority of its starting lineup in the NBA and could potentially put all five starters in the league. Does that make them the greatest high school team of all-time?

Today In History: Ball brothers, Chino Hills win California state title

Four years ago, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball led Chino Hills to a perfect season and California state title over De La Salle.

It has been a long four years since the Ball family burst onto the national scene. Then, the trio of brothers made up the majority of the starting lineup of a non-traditional high school basketball team. In the years since, Lonzo has become a bonafide starter in the NBA, LaMelo is primed to join him in the league and LiAngelo worked his way into a G League contract.

On this day four years ago, though, the brothers were simply looking to cap off a magical season with a state title and an undefeated record. In the California state title game on March 26, 2016, Chino Hills did just that, though it wasn’t pretty.

Matched up against De La Salle, a side that entered 31-2 on the year, the Huskies were slowed for the first time on the season. At halftime, Chino Hills trailed 30-28, a far cry from the 97.9 points per game the Huskies averaged on the season.

But Lonzo inspired a second-half rally that started with a 15-2 run and Chino Hills never looked back, outscoring De La Salle 42-20 in the second half to win going away, 70-50.

Lonzo finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals while LiAngelo had 18 points and LaMelo 14.

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Could Lonzo and LaMelo Ball be headed to Klutch Sports?

Lonzo Ball’s surprise departure from Creative Artists Agency could be the precursor to an even bigger move to Klutch Sports.

It came as a surprise on Tuesday when reports surfaced that Lonzo Ball would be leaving Creative Artists Agency, better known as CAA. Ball only signed with CAA in April of 2019 after parting ways with Harrison Gaines who served as his agent during the first two years of Ball’s career.

Ball was joined first at CAA by brothers LaMelo and LiAngelo then by new teammate Zion Williamson. With the family being in the entertainment market through their Facebook show “Ball in the Family” as well as being athletes, CAA seemed like an ideal fit for the brothers.

The family’s exit from the company could stem from Leon Rose’s move from CAA to the New York Knicks’ front office. While it’s not known specifically if Rose was agents from the Ball family, different reports at different times linked Rose to both Lonzo and LaMelo during their time at CAA.

The move away from CAA could also be a precursor for something much bigger for the Balls. Earlier this season, LaVar Ball was spotted sitting courtside with Rich Paul during a Lakers-Pelicans game in Los Angeles earlier this season.

Lonzo was close to LeBron James during their time with the Lakers together. Ball appeared on James’ show The Shop and spoke about his experience with Alan Foster. Reports circulated that the two grew closer at the end of their lone season together as both finished the year on the sideline injured.

The added interesting aspect this time around is LaMelo Ball’s potential involvement. While it’s not reported that LaMelo left the agency, the family has operated as a whole in the past in this regard. And Klutch Sports has made a habit in the past of latching onto highly-rated prospects in the NBA Draft.

Last season, Klutch represented Darius Garland, the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft. Klutch also represents Alonzo Trier, Miles Bridges and Dejounte Murray, all recent young draftees. Ball would certainly be the highest profile prospect they’ve signed but he fits the bill with Klutch.

For Lonzo, the move also months before extension talks will start with the New Orleans Pelicans. Ball has just one guaranteed year left on his contract before he hits restricted free agency in 2021.

And LiAngelo appears to be working his way into the NBA conversation as well. He was recently offered a G League contract after spending two months with the Oklahoma City Blue as a practice squad player. He’s likely to have offers to play in the Summer League in Las Vegas in July as well.

It will all lead to a very fascinating decision for Lonzo and potentially his brothers. Whether he lands with Klutch Sports or another agency, the trio have a fascinating future that makes their choice all the more intriguing.

Big Baller Brand launches new website, reopens online store

After roughly a half-year of being down, Big Baller Brand has relaunched its website and reopened its online store. 

After roughly a half-year of being down, Big Baller Brand has relaunched its website and reopened its online store.

The new online store features a men’s store with expectedly exorbitant pricing. A Big Baller Brand shirt comes in at $50 and $60, hoodies at $60 and $70 and shorts at $40.

The newly revamped women’s store features $35 tank tops, $40 v-necks, $50 shirts and a $70 sweatshirt. A similarly new youth section features $35 shirts and $60 hoodies.

Interestingly, the footwear section only includes Gelo G3s and the Lonzo ZO2.19s. While Melo hasn’t had a new shoe in years, not having his line available on the store is another sign in the growing case of LaMelo leaving the brand.

Like the rest of the items available, the shoes remain wildly overpriced even if they’re down from the original ZO2 pricing. The ZO2.19s come in at $170 and the G3s, the least popular shoe of the line, come in at $185.

With Lonzo and LaMelo remaining non-committal to the future of the company, this could end up being the last grasps of a fledgling company.

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LaVar Ball teases release of Big Baller Brand water, rims, cartoon in 2020

During an interview with TMZ, LaVar Ball revealed plans for Big Baller Brand water, rims and tires and cartoons in 2020.

While Big Baller Brand was quiet in 2019, LaVar Ball teased a much bigger 2020 in the works for the company. During a sitdown roundtable at TMZ with the likes of Metta World Peace and Master P, LaVar revealed some plans in the immediate future for Big Baller Brand that his far from the scope of clothing and apparel.

“In April, I got water coming out, Big Baller Brand water coming out. It’ll be in 2,500 stores. Two months after that, I have rims and tires coming out. Big Baller Brand rims and tires. If you have a Corvette or Ferrari, get Big Baller Brand ZO2s. If you got a big ass truck, my middle son’s strongest, that’s the Big Ball Brand G3s. If you got a hybrid, it’s the Big Baller Brand MB1s, that’s LaMelo.”

Big Baller Brand water isn’t new as it was released back in late 2018 and early 2019. But as Big Baller Brand took a step back following the allegations surrounding Alan Foster, the water bottles left the shelves as quickly as they went on them.

Big Baller Brand rims and tires are as far out in left field as anything imaginable and is a product that will have to be seen to be believed considering the outlandishness of it.

But that’s not the only thing LaVar teased in the roundtable as a much more ambitious project may also be in the works.

“I’m talking with some guys, this will be another thing that might knock you in the head, might have a cartoon coming out. That cartoon going to be amazing. This is what it’s called, “Mission Impossi-Ball.” I’m like a Charlie Angels type of guy. My boys are basketball players by day and superheroes by night.”

With the family already having a successful Facebook series in “Ball in the Family,” a cartoon could be a logical next step. But cartoons require a lot more people than running a reality television series does, making it a much more difficult task to complete.

But hardly anyone expected Big Baller Brand to be as big as it is now, even with the complications in the last year. And with a unique family that has three very successful basketball-playing sons, a cartoon could work.

What superpower do you think each Ball family member would have? Let us know in the comments below!