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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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LaMelo Ball posts Jay-Z song to Instagram story, hints at potential next move

With his deal with Roc Nation Sports announced, LaMelo Ball could be hinting at his next move with a shoe company on social media.

On Monday, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball signed with Roc Nation, ending multiple weeks of speculation as to which agency would be the family’s next stop after leaving Creative Artists Agency. While the family will be represented by Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation is obviously known for its founder, Jay-Z.

Also notable is Jay-Z’s involvement in PUMA. In early 2018, Jay-Z was named the head of PUMA Basketball. Around that time, the company began a more aggressive approach in bringing in basketball talent, landing DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and RJ Barrett.

LaMelo took to his Instagram on Tuesday to upload a series of posts to his story with Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” in the background.

Shortly after, Ball tweeted another cryptic message foretelling more moves to come for him and his family.

they starting to get it 🤫

— Melo (@MELOD1P) April 28, 2020

Ball’s next big move will likely be his shoe deal, which will almost certainly be the biggest one of his draft class. His manager Jermaine Jackson noted that he is still fielding offers but aligning with Roc Nation and Jay-Z likely gives PUMA an inside track.

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Report: LaMelo Ball still ‘wide open’ on potential sneaker deals

LaMelo Ball remains a sneaker free agent but following Monday’s decision to sign with Roc Nation, a shoe deal could be next in line.

While there was certainly much speculation as to which agency the Ball brothers would next align with, a decision that was made on Monday as they joined Roc Nation, the move that had much more intrigue regarded only LaMelo and his sneaker future. With the youngest Ball sibling being the most globally popular, his shoe deal will be one of the biggest in recent memory.

In ESPN’s piece by Jonathan Givony on the brother signing with Roc Nation, it was revealed that Ball was still listening to offers from shoe companies and that decision would be next in line.

Roc Nation will be tasked with negotiating marketing opportunities, including LaMelo Ball’s sneaker contract. Jay-Z was named creative director of Puma Basketball in June of 2018, but according to Jackson the Balls are speaking to several sneaker companies vying for his endorsement.

“He’s still wide open,” (LaMelo Ball’s manager Jermaine) Jackson said. “He hasn’t signed with anyone. Everyone is kicking in the door. Melo is open to whatever. With this pandemic going on, we don’t know what things are going to look like.”

Naturally, Puma likely moves to the front of the line after the brothers signed with Roc Nation. Puma was likely one of the teams already chasing Ball given their increased involvement with NBA players a la Marvin Bagley, DeAndre Ayton and RJ Barrett in recent years.

Nike would also likely have a foothold in the game as well given the fact Ball nearly exclusively sported the brand’s sneakers during his time in the NBL.

It’ll also be interesting to note if LaMelo signs independently of brother Lonzo. Both are sneaker free agents and while the latter won’t have quite the demand of the former, both would certainly be big additions to any brand. If the pair sign with Puma, for example, they would almost certainly be the two lead athletes on the basketball side of the roster.

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Golfweek’s guide to golf shoes: Fit, form and function

Find shoes that fit perfectly, get the story on spiked versus spikeless, and find out whether you need waterproof or water-resistant.

Even when they ride, golfers do a lot of walking on the course. And while strolling around town in running shoes can be comfortable, by swinging a golf club you create significant torque in your feet and ankles. And golf courses, being outside, put you out in the elements, so a shoe’s ability to handle hills, water, sand and dirt is also essential.

For all these reasons, golf shoes are among the most complicated pieces of footwear made. Here are some tips to help find the perfect pair.

Fit is critical
Under normal circumstances, the best way to find a good-fitting pair of golf shoes would be to go to your local pro shop or golf specialty store and try on a few pairs. However, we’re not living in normal times right now, and many stores and golf courses are closed. Shoe companies are selling products online, but trying on shoes before you buy them may not be possible.

It may seem obvious, but to find good-fitting shoes, start with what you know and what has fit well for you in the past.

“Over the last three years, we have not changed our sizing at all,” said Masun Denison, Adidas’ global footwear director. “If you have worn an Adidas shoe in the last three years, there is an excellent chance that the size you were comfortable with then is the size you would be today in any model we offer.”

However, things are not always as simple as buying the same size, because the most crucial factor in how a shoe fits is the last. The last is the mold or form that the shoe is designed around, and it determines things such as how wide or narrow the shoe will be, how much room is in the toe, the curvature and the shoe’s height. Companies often use a different last for different types of shoes, so if you are changing styles or opting to buy a shoe from a different brand, the last in the new shoes likely will be different, and that could make them fit differently.

For example, Adidas’s Tour 360 XT will feel different on your feet than the new Adidas Codechaos Boa because different materials are used in their construction. The shoes also have different lacing systems, and one is a spiked shoe while the other is spikeless. You would likely need the same size in both shoes, but they would feel different on your feet.

“If you look at the shoe from the toe-down view, as if it was on your foot, you can see that some are more rounded and some are pointy,” said Andrew Lawson, Puma Golf’s product line manager for footwear. “You can then look at your foot’s shape and tell if you have a wider foot or a narrow foot. Comfort is king, so if a shoe doesn’t fit your foot’s shape, it’s never going to be comfortable.”

Richard Fryer, FootJoy’s director of product management, said it’s worth noting that if you have a favorite pair of shoes, updated versions and new editions of that shoe will almost always fit the same way.

“As you look through our different categories, if you look at DryJoy Tour, Tour X, Pro S/L, the FJ Fury, they’re all based on the Laser Plus last,” Fryer said. “So if you were a 9 last year, you’ll be a 9 this year and be very happy.”

If you chose to buy a pair of golf shoes online, check the return policy before completing your purchase. It might be smart to buy two pairs, try them both on at home and keep the best-fitting pair if you are offered free returns.

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Kyle Kuzma working with Flint YMCA to provide kids meals during coronavirus

Los Angeles Lakers forward and Flint, Michigan Native Kyle Kuzma is trying to help his hometown in a time of crisis.

As the rest of the world grapples with the fallout of a global pandemic and hospitals in the United States are starting to run low on crucial supplies, one member of the Los Angeles Lakers is doing what he can to help kids in his hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Starting early next week for at least the following six weeks, Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has partnered with the local YMCA to provide approximately 550 meals per week for kids, according to The Athletic’s Bill Oram. The program will include a nightly dinner and a snack for kids. It isn’t the first time that Kuzma has tried to give back to his hometown of Flint.

This past summer, Kuzma partnered with LeBron James’ sports media company UNINTERRUPTED to provide a free basketball camp for kids that also included a year-long membership to the Flint YMCA. Meanwhile, James and his LeBron James Family Foundation are working to keep supporting the families who depend on non-academic programs from his I Promise Public School in Akron, Ohio.

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Rickie Fowler to use new Arnold Palmer inspired gear by Puma at Bay Hill

See the limited edition, Arnold Palmer-inspired shoes, bags, hats and accessories that Rickie Fowler will use at Bay Hill.

Whenever golfers hear the words “bay” and “hill” together, they are going to immediately think of Arnold Palmer, and that’s not going to change. The King passed away in 2016 and no current player pays homage to Palmer, and what he meant to golf, more visibly than Rickie Fowler. In addition to competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational several times, and again this week, for the past few seasons Fowler has teamed with Cobra-Puma Golf to create limited-edition gear that pays tribute to Palmer.

That tradition continues this week at Bay Hill, and golf fans will have a chance to buy some of the same gear on Puma’s website and at select retailers, Puma has also announced people who make a donation to the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation this week will have a chance to win a trip to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando to play the course, tour Palmer’s office and received Fowler-autographed gear. Click here to learn more about the charity sweepstakes.

Puma Vessal Arnold Palmer stand bag. (Puma)

The new API CobraVessel stand bag ($599) is not only designed to hold anything you might need on the course, according to the company it is 60 percent lighter than a typical stand bag. It is decorated in Arnie Camo, a pattern that was inspired by the iconic Palmer umbrella logo.

The Puma Ignite NXT Arnie Camo shoes ($150) have the same Arnie Camo pattern on the outsole, heel and collar lining while the sock liner inside the shoe features Palmer’s signature.

Palmer loved to fly so much that he got a pilot’s license and logged over 20,000 hours of flight time. The Puma Proadapt Palmer shoes ($250) not only offer lots of lateral stability and traction but honor Palmer’s favorite plane, the Cessna 750 Citation X. On the medial side, N1AP has been added, which was the tail number on Palmer’s plane and his signature has been added to the sock liner.

2020 Puma Arnold Palmer hats — The Latrobe and Bay Hill hats. (Puma)

Several different hats are also being offered ($35 each), including the Bay Hill and Latrobe hats.

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Not even now that he’s a slam-dunk …

Not even now that he’s a slam-dunk champion. Not even after signing a new endorsement deal over the weekend with Puma, which also inked a deal with Heat rookie Kendrick Nunn. The only things Jones Jr. is changing are people’s perceptions that dunking is all there is in his game. Jones Jr., the Heat’s high-flying forward who turned 23 on the night he soared over teammate Bam Adebayo and others on his way to his first dunk title, something he longed to win ever since coming up short in the competition in 2017, isn’t preoccupied with what the critics say.

Jones Jr. signing with Puma should also …

Jones Jr. signing with Puma should also help with his reputation — not to mention his footwear choices on a daily basis. “It helps me with shoes because I really don’t have to buy any shoes anymore,” Jones Jr. said. “I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to wear. I had a lot of Pumas already, but now I just can grab anything that has Puma on it.”

But has the increased attention …

But has the increased attention stemming from Saturday night’s memorable victory over Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic changed Jones Jr.? “Man, he walked in and didn’t say nothing to me this morning,” Jimmy Butler joked. “Nah, he’s the same dude. He’s always going to be like that. And I know him: If he goes to the dunk contest next year, he’ll win it again.”

Forecaddie: Bryson DeChambeau not ready to sport Puma’s new slow play polo just yet

Puma’s new Saltwater Collection was debuted at the Hero World Challenge by Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland.

The Forecaddie couldn’t help but admire Puma’s new Saltwater Collection, debuted at the Hero World Challenge by its three highest profile male ambassadors. The ultra soft and thin cotton — The Man Out Front meant to say Fusion Yarn Flex fabric — may address the need for a performance shirt without the shine.

But it’s the design that may turn a few heads, with the light blue-themed collection including the Slow Play Polo, Slow Play Tee and the Predators Polo. A turtle logo adorns the Slow Play Polo. Get it. Turtle. Slow.

The Forecaddie digresses.

As Gary Woodland and Rickie Fowler debuted different versions of the turtle-infused line, the field’s other Puma player was not quite ready to embrace the golfing turtle.

“It’s an awesome collection,” Bryson DeChambeau said as The Man Out Front trailed him in a quick course departure following an opening 76. “They had the turtle one …” he said, and before the Forecaddie could ask if it would make his repertoire.

“That’s not going to happen,” DeChambeau said.

He’s probably wise to avoid any slow play talk after 2019’s high-profile episodes where he became a lightning rod for tepid play. Though Rickie Fowler, easing into the new collection with a white shirt sporting just one turtle while posting a first round 69, regaled media with a different, light-hearted theory.

“I thought it would have been awesome if he kind of went with it and then he could have just said to people asking, ‘Bryson, why are you wearing it?’ and be like, ‘Actually it’s my own line, I’m a little slow, Gary and Rickie decided to jump on board, they’re very supportive of me, to help me through this hard time.’”

That’s not going to happen. At least, anytime soon.

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