Tag: Big Baller Brand

LaVar Ball blamed LaMelo’s injury problems with the Hornets on Puma’s ‘raggedy shoes’

LaVar is back like he never left.

It’s wild that LaVar Ball was seemingly everywhere back in 2017 and 2018. But I must give him credit — he’s basically avoided the spotlight and controversy since his sons, Lonzo and LaMelo, reached the NBA.

But the outspoken basketball dad could only stay silent for so long. And as both Lonzo and LaMelo have seen promising NBA careers plagued with injury problems, LaVar has taken aim at LaMelo’s shoe supplier, Puma.

In an interview with CBS Sports, LaVar voiced his frustrations with both NBA conditioning programs and the quality of Puma’s basketball shoes. He said via CBS Sports:

“They’ve been trained hard enough? No, no, no,” he says. “Because you condition your body for running and jumping. You’ve got to condition your legs. So that’s why I always have my boys in them hills and running hard in them hills. That will make you run like a deer when you get on that court, so you won’t be getting hurt. A lot of things have to do with them raggedy shoes that Melo be wearing. Them shoes are not made the right way for him. That’s why he keeps tweaking his ankle every single time.”

Lonzo has not appeared in an NBA game since January of 2022 as he’s dealt with chronic knee issues. Lonzo, of course, started his career with a Big Baller Brand signature shoe before distancing himself from the brand amid controversy. LaMelo signed a 10-year deal with Puma in 2020 rumored to be worth $100 million. And despite his All-Star play when available, LaMelo will end his 2023-24 season with just 22 games played and 36 last season.

Lavar Ball announces new Big Baller Brand luxury lifestyle shoe

Big Baller Brand is back like it never left!

Long live Big Baller Brand.

On Tuesday, Lavar Ball announced on his Instagram that Big Baller Brand has a new luxury lifestyle shoe available for purchase.

Lavar opened his announcement video with an ode to Charles Barkley’s old Nike commercial, stating he, unlike what Barkley said, is a ‘role model.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU7-f2npVz_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Per Nick DePaula of ESPN, the new luxury lifestyle shoe starts at $695 or for $895, you can get your hands on the “I Told You So” theme.

Though Lonzo now wears Nike and LaMelo has an endorsement deal, and now his own signature shoe, with Puma, Lavar is still cranking out BBB merchandise and shoes.

You can hate the player but don’t hate the game because Lavar Ball did indeed tell us so.

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WATCH: Big Baller Brand Drew League team wins on buzzer-beating alley-oop

Big Baller Brand picked up their first win in the Drew League in dramatic fashion this weekend with a game-winning alley-oop.

Big Baller Brand’s Drew League experience wasn’t a great one through the first two weeks of the season with a pair of losses, but that changed on Sunday. Facing off against Problems, a fellow winless team, BBB trailed after each of the first three quarters but did not trail when it mattered most.

Down a point in the final seconds and in-bounding the ball on the sideline, BBB completed a memorable win and comeback with an alley-oop to former JBA standout Curtis Hollis for his 36th points of the night, sealing an 81-80 win for the first victory of the season.

Hollis, as noted, played not just in the JBA but with the JBA Select Team that toured Europe with LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball. However, like the league in general, once LaMelo returned to America and SPIRE Institute, Hollis faded out of the spotlight.

Since the JBA folded, Hollis joined the Dragons Rhöndorf of the German ProB league in 2019 where he averaged 22.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game in 18 games.

On Sunday, he added 13 rebounds to his 36 points for an impressive double-double.

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LOOK: Lonzo Ball sports Big Baller Brand ‘Team Tina’ shirt pregame

Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Celtics, Lonzo Ball sported Big Baller Brand gear from the Team Tina collection in support of his mother.

Lonzo Ball’s relationship with Big Baller Brand has been fractured at best in recent years. Dating back to the situation surrounding Alan Foster, the relationship between father LaVar and son Lonzo has been stressed at times over the last few years.

While LaVar and Lonzo have since repaired their relationship, Ball’s relationship with Big Baller Brand never quite recovered. Most recently, Lonzo launched his own clothing brand line and was reportedly on the market for a shoe deal, two signs of an unlikely return to Big Baller Brand.

However, on Sunday, Ball appeared in Big Baller Brand gear heading into the arena prior to the game against Boston at the Smoothie King Center.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLnZa-SpiMQ/

The shirt is a unique one and might explain why he’s sporting it. It comes from Big Baller Brand’s Team Tina collection dedicated to Ball’s mother. In the least surprising news possible, the shirt is available on the brand’s website for a low, low price of $100.

Ball, like his brothers, is close to his mother. Recently, LaMelo donated 100 scholarships to students at his mother’s old middle school. Both Lonzo and LaMelo have spoken about what their mother means to them, which could explain Ball wearing a shirt from her collection.

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WATCH: LaVar Ball, Big Baller Brand announce racing collection with hilarious video

Big Baller Brand announced their new Racing Collection on Instagram with a hilarious video featuring LaVar Ball himself.

Big Baller Brand vowed to head into a new direction with Lonzo and LaMelo Ball leaving the brand, and LaVar Ball certainly has done so. Over the weekend, LaVar Ball and Big Baller Brand announced an entirely different venture in the Big Baller Brand Racing collection.

To announce the new products, Ball posted a hilarious video to the Big Baller Brand Instagram account. In the video, Ball in a pickup truck is waiting at a stoplight when a Mustang pulls up alongside him, also driven by Ball.

After some trash talk and engine revving between the two Balls, a Suzuki motorcycle pulls up also driven by Ball, shockingly. The Ball on the motorcycle is sporting the new Big Baller Brand racing collection as he eventually races away.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJPFWoMnJV9/

The new products are available on the Big Baller Brand online store and, fittingly, are wildly overpriced. The Big Baller Brand leather biker jacket comes in at a staggering $850. The Big Baller Brand motorcycle gloves, meanwhile, run at $350.

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s father on starting own brand: ‘I’m no LaVar Ball’

In starting his own brand, Beast Development, Kelly Oubre Sr. wants to keep expectations in check for the company’s success.

As controversial a figure as he may be, LaVar Ball will always have the label of pioneer after creating his own brand and building it up to global prominence. For many, he’s served as motivation, including Master P, in starting their own brands from the ground up.

Kelly Oubre Sr., is the latest to cite Ball as an example for starting his own business. However, while Ball is an example, he is not someone Oubre is attempting to replicate.

In a piece with NBC Bay Area, he discussed starting his own brand and not wanting to come across as LaVar Ball 2.0.

“We all know of the Ball family, and I commend Mr. Ball. I’m not Mr. Ball. And I never tried to be, because I realize that I have one Kelly and I love my son with all my heart. So, I didn’t want to give the impression, because it’s just not my personality, that I was trying to seek the limelight or seek attention, especially if it was at his expense.”

“Don’t get me wrong. And, please, don’t think I’m knocking Mr. Ball and his methods. But as a dad, you know, where is the blueprint here? There is none.”

Oubre Sr. stated he waited to launch his company, Beast Development, in order to not shine in his son’s light. Contrasted to Ball, who seemed to cash in on his sons at the earliest imaginable chance and it’s certainly very different approaches.

Beast Development, like Big Baller Brand, is a clothing brand. Becoming as successful as Big Baller Brand was will be a tough task for any brand, let alone a new start-up brand.

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LaVar Ball says Big Baller Brand will not collaborate with Puma, Jordan Brand

Despite losing both his sons from the brand, LaVar Ball is not eyeing any potential collaborations with Puma or Jordan Brand in the future.

LaVar Ball’s floundering Big Baller Brand is entering a new phase as a brand, but don’t expect that to mean he’s open to outside help. Despite LaMelo leaving for Puma and Lonzo eyeing either a deal with another brand or potentially starting his own line, LaVar still remains stubborn in his ways.

While on the Shay Shay Club podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Ball was asked about a pair of potential collaborations with Puma, where LaMelo signed, or Jordan Brand, with Michael Jordan having just drafted LaMelo. Ball vehemently shot down the idea of any partnership.

“Am I going to collab with Brand Jordan? No. I was going to do a collab before but I was like ‘Nah.’ I like to own my stuff. What I mean by that is, when you have a collab, this is what happens: you have to agree and I have to agree. Right now, it’s just about what Big Baller want, what he like and I don’t have to collab. I was going to think about doing that with Puma or something and I got to thinking ‘You know what? I don’t want to collab now. I just want to keep my own thing.’ It’s a privately owned company. I don’t have no sayso with nobody. Investors try to come at me and I say no. I’m my own dude.”

Previously, Ball had hinted at a potential collaboration with Puma. Presently, there has been no rumor that has even suggested Puma is interested in a collaboration. The brand did release a collaboration with LaMelo, a potential precursor to him getting his own line in the future.

As for Jordan Brand, a partnership would be even less likely given the reputation of the brand and how fledgling Big Baller Brand appears to be in contrast at the moment.

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LOOK: LaMelo Ball’s ‘1 of 1’ clothing collaboration with Puma revealed

The first collaboration between LaMelo Ball and PUMA was released officially on Wednesday with the ‘1 of 1’ clothing collection.

LaMelo Ball’s first collaboration with PUMA was officially released on Wednesday. The limited edition “1 of 1” clothing collection is available to purchase online.

The collaboration will feature both a “1 of 1” Melo hoodie and tee with the design inspired by the “Not from Here” creative concept originating from LaMelo to represent his “one of one” attitude.  The hoodie features a classic PUMA silhouette decked out in custom graphics and unique style, while the tee is cool and classic design, with custom graphics and a 100% soft cotton feel.

The tee will be available for $40 and the hoodie for $70 both on PUMA.com as well as the PUMA store in New York City starting Wednesday.

Ball officially signed with PUMA one month ago, spelling the end of his time with Big Baller Brand, much to the dismay of his father LaVar. Lonzo Ball will soon follow in signing with a brand to end his time with Big Baller Brand as well.

LiAngelo Ball says LaVar is ‘more calm now’ as sons have grown up

After coming onto the scene as a loud, bombastic personality, LaVar Ball has calmed in recent years as his sons have accomplished their goals.

When LaVar Ball burst onto the scene many years ago, he did so as a bombastic father who had set a path for his sons to stardom. Fast forward to present day and his plan has nearly come to fruition. Lonzo has secured a spot in the NBA and LaMelo is days away from doing the same with both two of the more popular players in the league. While LiAngelo hasn’t secured that stardom, he did secure a place on an NBA G League team last year before the season came to an end abruptly due to COVID-19.

A mixture of his sons achieving their goals and old age mellowing him out has led to a more reserved version of LaVar Ball as a result. While he is still capable of loud outbursts, they are far less frequent. LiAngelo recently talked about his dad in a profile on the family for Sports Illustrated and his more reserved style in recent months and years.

“…[he’s] more calm now. He’ll give us the right advice and he’ll let us do what we want with it. He understands that we’re all grown up now.”

There have been recent examples of a more mellow LaVar, particularly in his response to Lonzo Ball leaving Big Baller Brand and LaMelo Ball joining Puma. That being said, there’s also been examples of the older, louder version of Ball like in the recent clip from “Ball in the Family.”

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Report: LaMelo Ball has worked out for the Golden State Warriors and two other teams

With one week left before the NBA Draft, top-prospect LaMelo Ball worked out for the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons.

With one week until the NBA’s long-awaited draft night, the Golden State Warriors are still putting the finishing touches on their plans for the No. 2 overall pick.

Before they’re on the clock on Nov. 18, the Warriors are putting some of the top prospects in the draft class through workouts. During the draft process, James Wiseman, Deni Avdija, Anthony Edwards and Isaac Okoro are some of the prospects to be on the court for training sessions with the Golden State Warriors.

On Thursday, potential top-overall pick LaMelo Ball joined Golden State’s list of pre-draft workouts. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Ball conducted a workout in front of the Warriors, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons. On Wednesday, Ball reportedly held a workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Via @DraftExpress on Twitter:

In 12 games in Australia’s NBL, Ball averaged 17 points on 37.5% shooting from the field with 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals. Ball tallied 25% on 6.7 3-point attempts per contest.

 

While selecting Ball may not fill a need with Steph Curry roaming the backcourt in the Bay Area, the 19-year-old’s ability might be too tough for Golden State to pass on.

Along with his resume being littered with professional basketball experience in Lithuania and Australia, Ball is a savvy point guard that brings a creative approach to every possession.

As he develops his jumper and shot taking behind Curry and Klay Thompson, Ball would provide Steve Kerr’s rotation with a devastating playmaker to run with Eric Paschall in the second unit.

In USA TODAY’s Rookie Wire draft big board, Ball is listed as the No. 1 overall player in Bryan Kalbrosky’s top-100. According to Kalbrosky, Ball has “the most potential” for all prospects in the 2020 class.

Via Rookie Wire:

LaMelo Ball, due to his unique size blending with insane playmaking and court vision, arguably has the most potential of all players in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has a real chance to be the face of a franchise, especially if his jump shot becomes more efficient, which gives him just a slight edge over anyone else for the top spot in this class.

While there’s a chance Ball could be off the board by the time Myers and Kerr are on the clock next Thursday, the Warriors are taking the proper research steps in the final stages of draft season.

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