ESPN’s Nick DePaula, who specializes in shoe brand news, provided multiple updates as related to the Ball family on Wednesday. In helping announce LaMelo Ball’s arrival with PUMA Basketball, he also provided updates on Big Baller Brand and Lonzo.
By signing with PUMA, LaMelo had, either intentionally or not, provided the death knell for Big Baller Brand. While Lonzo is one of the most popular athletes for his age, the brand needed both brothers to survive long-term. And with LaMelo out of the picture long-term, Lonzo is set to follow suit.
According to DePaula, Lonzo is set to leave Big Baller Brand, marking the end of the company as a shoewear brand.
BBB’s run as a footwear brand is over, with both LaMelo & Zo moving on.
However, I still love the concept of Ownership vs Endorsement and always thought the vision was there.
Execution just didn’t hit, but BBB will be an all-time case study. https://t.co/GKRWwhrDOb
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) October 14, 2020
While there is a bigger discussion to be had about Big Baller Brand, its success and failures and what the brand’s impact will be long-term, the more interesting discussion, for now, is on Lonzo’s sneaker future.
There has been little discussion about where Lonzo may end up long-term, but his outspokenness toward Nike shoes could tell a story. Lonzo sported Kobe shoes the entire season with the Pelicans. He’s long stated that Kobes are his favorite shoe to play in and have been the default shoe he’s worn when not sporting his signature Big Baller Brand shoes.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Ball is destined for Nike. In Australia last season, LaMelo sported Nike shoes and, specifically, Kevin Durant’s signature shoe for most of his season with the Illawarra Hawks. Clearly based on Wednesday’s news, that had little impact on LaMelo’s sneaker brand choice.
Lonzo is set, then, to be likely the top sneaker free agent on the market moving forward and will command a pretty penny. His recent switch to Klutch Sports could also serve him well in negotiations for a new shoe deal and also adds more credence to him potentially signing with Nike considering Lebron James’ lifelong association with the brand.
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