An endorsement deal with Nike, Under Armour or Adidas is not in the cards for Lonzo Ball.
Ball's father LaVar confirmed that the three shoe and apparel companies informed him that they were not interested in doing a deal with his son. Sources with the three companies told ESPN.com that they indeed were moving on.
Never in the history of modern day shoe endorsements have the big companies all stepped away from a potential top pick nearly two months before the NBA draft. But the proposition that LaVar, who has been representing Lonzo on the deal, was offering also has no precedence.
In his meetings with the three, LaVar insisted that the company license his upstart Big Baller Brand from him. He also showed the companies a shoe prototype that he hoped would be Lonzo's first shoe.
"We've said from the beginning, we aren't looking for an endorsement deal," LaVar told 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."
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From the article:
I think there is a material chance that Ball falls 1-3 picks because of his dad. His father is a walking circus atmosphere -- is that good for an NBA franchise?
From the article:
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Last week, Nike consultant George Raveling, at SportsBusinessJournal's World Congress of Sports called LaVar "the worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years."
I think there is a material chance that Ball falls 1-3 picks because of his dad. His father is a walking circus atmosphere -- is that good for an NBA franchise?
i have said this before i want nothing to do with him on the knicks..
father is a walming circus, last thing the knicks need
It is long past time for that...
Hah hadn't seen this - and that's my feeling too. Hard to tell your dad to back off when you're 19 and he's supported you your entire life.
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I feel really bad for Lonzo.
Hah hadn't seen this - and that's my feeling too. Hard to tell your dad to back off when you're 19 and he's supported you your entire life.
Yep. Its a tough spot for the kid. He's only 19 - he doesn't know any better. I think LaVar probably helped drive him and push him to get to where he is. And all of the over the top bravado and the ludicrous hot takes certainly got the nation talking about Lonzo, which isn't the worst thing in and of itself, but I think LaVar is putting a lot of undue pressure on Lonzo and just needs to let him be himself and make his own choices.
The unfortunate part is that a kid his age often simply doesn't see the other side. You grow up with a father like LaVar and you just sort of can't see that he's obstructive. I think Lonzo will figure it out sooner than later. But it's a hard spot for him to be in. You can tell that a lot of the things LaVar does/says make him a bit uncomfortable but it seems like the type of situation where he doesn't want to say it or simply doesn't know how.
This is a story that has been written many times. Some fathers try to live vicariously through their sons because their sons have talents that they never had. It is bad parenting and becomes very detrimental to the kid.
Hopefully for Lonzo's sake, he'll recognize it sooner than later and tell LaVar that he needs to back off.
problem is teams are not going to want to have to deal with a players father rippijg coaches and other players on the tram every single loss...
plus he will not let his son sign a shoe deal unless all 3 sons get a shoe deal or their brand...
his son didnt help himself by announcing he was going pro 5 minutes after they were eliminated
"I've already designed the shoe!"
"I've already designed the shoe!"
For some reason, this is the image that springs to mind:
I have a lot of sympathy for Lonzo, too. It's easy for a stranger to say he should just tell his dad to get lost....but that's his father. They seem close, and his dad certainly was extremely involved in his life to this point. It will be very painful for Lonzo to separate himself from his father.
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I'm imaging this prototype shoe they've already designed like something he put together with Elmer's glue, Popsicle sticks, and elbow macaroni.
"I've already designed the shoe!"
For some reason, this is the image that springs to mind:
I have a lot of sympathy for Lonzo, too. It's easy for a stranger to say he should just tell his dad to get lost....but that's his father. They seem close, and his dad certainly was extremely involved in his life to this point. It will be very painful for Lonzo to separate himself from his father.
LOL. If I recall, that car had "racket peanut steering"
LaVar Ball had already gone so far as to design a prototype for Lonzo's first sneaker, ESPN reports. What's more, he says he's been working on the shoe since the day his children were born.
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I'm imaging this prototype shoe they've already designed like something he put together with Elmer's glue, Popsicle sticks, and elbow macaroni.
"I've already designed the shoe!"
For some reason, this is the image that springs to mind:
I have a lot of sympathy for Lonzo, too. It's easy for a stranger to say he should just tell his dad to get lost....but that's his father. They seem close, and his dad certainly was extremely involved in his life to this point. It will be very painful for Lonzo to separate himself from his father.
Perfect!
Lakers have a 15.6% chance of pick first.
I don't think that has anything to do with his dad. It's really hard to consider anyone over Fultz.
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was told flat out by someone who is very well tied in that the Lakers would take Fultz over Ball despite all of the talk of them being obsessed with Ball (not saying they don't like Ball).
I don't think that has anything to do with his dad. It's really hard to consider anyone over Fultz.
I didn't mean to imply it was related to his dad. I just was commenting on the Laker/Ball stuff and how he said he'd rather go to the Lakers than go #1 overall. As I've noted before I'm close with a well known NBA writers daughter and he's pretty friendly with Magic and Magic (like most of the world) has Fultz #1 overall player in the draft.
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was told flat out by someone who is very well tied in that the Lakers would take Fultz over Ball despite all of the talk of them being obsessed with Ball (not saying they don't like Ball).
I don't think that has anything to do with his dad. It's really hard to consider anyone over Fultz.
I agree. Fultz is that clear #1.
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If this Kid can play all those guys will be coming back wanting to sign this kid. It's all on him who cares what his dad is saying. He isn't hurting anybody. Just very proud and over confident in his kids.
problem is teams are not going to want to have to deal with a players father rippijg coaches and other players on the tram every single loss...
plus he will not let his son sign a shoe deal unless all 3 sons get a shoe deal or their brand...
If the kid can play, and i think he will be really good, he will be fine.
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I'm imaging this prototype shoe they've already designed like something he put together with Elmer's glue, Popsicle sticks, and elbow macaroni.
"I've already designed the shoe!"
For some reason, this is the image that springs to mind:
Check this out:
lollllll
He way early on but has stepped back from the comment since ... the son never said anything like that just the dad
Meanwhile Shaq has a kid going to Arizona and you don't see him Shaq-tin a Fool.