Few can imagine what Lonzo Ball is going through in the wake of his decision last week to sever ties with Alan Foster, co-founder of Big Baller Brand and close family friend. The move came as Ball and his team discovered that Foster was taking money from personal and professional accounts of Ball’s.
Ball’s decision came separately of father LaVar Ball, the one who brought Foster into the fold, introduced him to the family and eventually made him part owner of Big Baller Brand. Unsurprisingly, that made the move all the more challenging. In ESPN’s piece, Ball released a statement on his decision to sever ties with Big Baller Brand.
“This has been a very difficult decision as I had a great deal of love and respect for Alan. But the time has come for me to take responsibility for my own career both on and off the court.”
Ball’s righthand man, manager Darren “DMo” Moore, has been with him throughout as the two are essentially inseparable. Moore and Ball even released a song earlier this year titled ‘GetUrMerch,’ a phrase popularized by Moore in reference to Big Baller Brand.
That makes Moore’s video on Monday that showed him dumping ZO2s into the trash with the hashtag #DumpUrMerch all the more jarring. Moore also released a statement about severing ties with Foster.
“Alan Foster was more than a trusted adviser. He was a mentor, a father figure and someone Lonzo and I respected, loved and listened to. … I’m proud of Lonzo for waking up and taking back his power. Together, we will fight for justice.”
Ball and Moore, along with agent Harrison Gaines, have set themselves apart from LaVar and Foster and are making decisions of their own. Signing with Nike would be a step in that direction, a move that feels inevitable. Dissolving Big Baller Brand would be another step in that direction, another move that appears likely.
