(SL) – Let’s be clear, what LaVar Ball is trying to do is plausible and he should believe that his kids are the best. There’s a way to go about it though and he seems to be lacking tact and common sense. The fact that he has turned off every major retailer who wanted to sign his oldest son should be a big enough hint that he’s doing too much. However, the signs are wafting over him. If the father of 3 is going for shock value, it’s not working.
Nike passed, Adidas passed, Under Armour passed and everyone else. A Billion dollar merchandising deal for all 3 of his sons, two of which are still in high school? Is he high? And then he comes back, releases a line of shoes for Lonzo called the ZO2 and places a $495 price tag on it. $995 if you want them autographed. We see what you did there LaVar, but we’re not impressed.
Now before we really ask what’s he smoking, let’s see the shoe and see if it’s worth it. Oh, I forgot to mention that you can get the sliders for $220. But the biggest catch is, reportedly if you order the shoe, you can’t even get them until November. Maybe LaVar should secure a deal with a manufacturer and distributor before he starts selling shoes. Not to mention, his son hasn’t even gotten drafted yet and recent comments have probably turned off quite a few teams.
Once believed to be a top 3 draft pick, after Lonzo’s pops insulted Lebron James’ kids, and claimed his son was better than Stephen Curry, many believe his stock has decreased. Let’s be blunt. Nobody likes a loud mouth jerk. He claims that he himself beat Michael Jordan. Really? Okay. Can you imagine LaVar brokering his son’s NBA contract. 1 year deal for $195 million because of course he likes 3 different digits.
On Friday, LaVar was asked on “The Dan Le Batard Show” why he decided to charge $495 for the shoes. His response, “I figured that’s what the shoe was worth,” Ball told Le Batard. “I liked the way it sounds. You see, when you are your own owner, you can come up with any price you want.”
Ball said he wasn’t in competition with Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour and that they were battling below Big Baller Brand. “Let Nike and Adidas and Under Armour — they battling below me,” Ball said. “They’ll go ahead and put all their stuff in Foot Locker. I’m better than them. I’m a step above.”
As for why the shoe was specifically priced at $495 and not, say, $500, Ball again acted like the question was a bit absurd. “Five hundred dollars?! Four-ninety-five sounds better,” Ball said. “I like three different digits.”
Ball further defended the shoe’s price by saying it was “symbolic” — Lonzo is the first basketball player to have a brand before entering the NBA. He also said there was some value in knowing that his son “designed all of it” and that other shoe companies don’t allow rookies to do that.
There’s only one problem with that. The shoe is being criticized for looking a lot like the Kobe 11s and the logo appears to be ripped from another source. See below.
A whole lot of talk, not enough originality or profit margin sensibility. Maybe LaVar never took Economics, but supply and demand is a real thing. And right now…your son isn’t there yet. Even the greats that have highly priced shoes are deemed collectors’ items. For example, the Kobe 11s cost $500 because it’s the last shoe Kobe wore in the NBA. Lebron James’ first shoe he wore in his first NBA game will cost you a pretty penny too.
The shoe Blake Griffin wore when he was jumping over cars in the NBA All-star contest will hit your pockets even harder. But again, if you’re a collector..collect. Lonzo Ball may be an outstanding athlete, depending on who you ask, but he hasn’t touched the big leagues yet.
The most disturbing piece in this ridiculous tale of a father thinking his balls are bigger than they are, is the insult levied at kids that can’t afford the shoe. Good thing a real baller like Shaq stepped in to acknowledge the foul verbal spew.
Wale didn’t appreciate it either.
Ball’s youngest son attempted to support his dad. But kid this is way more than a father believing in his sons.
And as for LaMelo or LiAngelo wearing the BBB shoes when they hit UCLA’s court, forget about it. It’s not happening. UCLA has an almost $300 million dollar sponsorship deal with Under Armour. Group consensus…LaVar Ball should humble himself. Above everything, there are reports that Balls’s wife is suffering from a recent stroke.
Speculation alleges he refuses to let his sons see her in that condition out of fear that they might get distracted. I personally, don’t think the man is that out of touch, but who knows. Blessings to his wife for sure, if that is the case.
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