Paired with the new release, LaMelo helped refurbish two basketball courts at L.C Coleman Neighborhood Park in Charlotte, which also showcase the Hornets’ colors along with Ball’s logo, per Nick Carboni of WCNC Charlotte.
Stay tuned to Lonzo Wire for more updates on new releases of LaMelo’s MB.01.
East Anchorage’s boys basketball team united its community by wearing “Black Lives Matter” on its gear. Puma helped the cause with sneakers.
Corrections and clarifications: The headline on this article has been revised to reflect that East Anchorage High School was allowed to wear athletic gear containing the phrase âBlack Lives Matterâ in the Alaska state tournament.
East Anchorage High School boasts one of the best boys basketball programs in the state of Alaska.
It also features a group of young men dedicated to bringing about change in their community.
East Anchorage players had been wearing “Black Lives Matter” in their gear since the beginning of their season. While wearing the message of unity and equality, East Anchorage pieced together an undefeated regular season. However, after winning its conference tournament last week, a formal complaint was issued to the Alaska Sports Activities Association (ASAA) claiming that Black Lives Matter is a political statement and the team should have to cover the phrase during the state tournament.
Disappointed in the criticism of the teamâs efforts to unify the community, Damarion Delaney, one of East Anchorage’s star players took to Twitter to shed light on the situation. Fortunately, the ASAA ruled in favor of East Anchorage and allowed them to continue wearing their full uniforms.
i heard east was called in a complaint about us young men in our choice getting âblack lives matterâ coming down the spinal of our shooting shirts for pregame. and weâve played our first game to our last game in these warm ups. the inequality and unfairness is really visible.
Delaney’s Twitter thread caught the attention of David Bullock, an Alaska native currently living in Los Angeles and CEO of 907 Agency. He immediately took action, reaching out to Puma in an effort to garner additional support of East Anchorage’s efforts. Puma responded by gifting each East Anchorage player and coach a pair of black sneakers, which Bullock gifted to the team hours before its Alaska 4A state championship game Saturday.
“The thread on Twitter received hundreds of retweets and favorites, which is what got my attention,” Bullock told USA Today High School Sports. “I viewed this as an attempt to silence the movement. I reached out to Puma Basketball to support these young men. In response, Puma sent a pair of black shoes to every player and coach on the team, which I delivered to them hours before the state championship.”
Photo: ARM Creative
East Anchorage ultimately completed a perfect season by winning its state title game, but its players achieved far more than just a trophy in doing so. Like it or not, East Anchorage left a profound impact on its community — one that will play a major role in how it combats social and racial injustices moving forward.
“The efforts to silence this teamâs message of equality werenât successful and ultimately amplified their voices,” Bullock said. “Not only did this group of young men stick to their beliefs, but they completed a perfect season and became Alaska state champions.”
It’s official. LaMelo Ball is a member of Puma’s basketball family. The two sides had been connected in the rumor mill since August, but they were still in the negotiation stage.
This time, things are for real. With this news, LaMelo becomes the first member of the Ball family to officially sign a shoe deal outside of Big Baller Brand.
Ball and Puma both announced the partnership on Twitter Wednesday morning. They unveiled a new commercial with Ball as well as what seems to be his new tag line with Puma for the foreseeable future: “Not from here.”
In the video, he shoots a step back jumper and somehow teleports to grab his own rebound.
They’re implying that he’s a basketball alien from out of this world, which is made even more clear when you look at the backdrop for this promotional shoot.
OFFICIAL: Potential #1 pick LaMelo Ball has signed a multi-year shoe deal with PUMA. pic.twitter.com/VKWAvbtGcQ
PUMAâs Director of Brand Adam Petrick on signing LaMelo Ball: âWe are thrilled to add him to our roster of talented athletes and at just 19 years old, we canât wait to see his impact on the broader culture surrounding basketball.â Â A LaMelo x Puma tee & hoodie will drop on 11/18 pic.twitter.com/Uq76zb23Ta
This is great move for Ball. Puma is the perfect landing spot to carry on the foundation he built at Big Baller Brand.
He’ll be a priority for Puma. Ball is going to be the feature for Puma’s basketball roster from day one. He wasn’t finding that anywhere else. Nike has LeBron James and a bunch of All-Stars. Adidas? James Harden, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. New Balance? Kawhi Leonard. Even Under Armour has Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid.
Puma’s most notable basketball player at this moment might be Deandre Ayton. And he’s good! Don’t get it twisted. But he’s not among those names mentioned above. LaMelo Ball, right now, is the closest thing Puma has to a star and he hasn’t played a minute yet.
He’s already got a massive following from his work with Big Baller Brand and what the Ball family built through different media partnerships with Facebook. That’s not something they’ll have to worry about.
It’s unclear if Ball will have a signature shoe with Puma. On that, he told Complex “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” It sounds like it’s probably something he’ll have to play his way into at this point.
But he’s got the audience. He’s got the talent. The only thing he has to do now is make sure everything works out on the basketball court. If he does that? Things with Puma will take care of themselves.
Through Nick DePaula, ESPN’s shoe reporter, Ball released a quote on joining the brand over remaining with Big Baller Brand.
âI personally chose a different path to achieve my success because that defines who I am. I know some people think I am mysterious or ânot from here,â and I might have to agree. I am someone who likes to be different & consider myself to be 1 of 1.â
âWe are thrilled to add him to our roster of talented athletes and at just 19 years old, we canât wait to see his impact on the broader culture surrounding basketball.â
Per DePaula, the first Ball gear with PUMA will drop on Nov. 18, which is not coincidentally the date of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Ball joins a growing list of PUMA athletes that includes soccer superstar Neymar as well basketball athletes Kyle Kuzma, RJ Barrett and Michael Porter, Jr., among others.
