Do the sins of the father affect the future of the son? Well, depending on whether or not you want to call what LaVar Ball does sinful, it’s definitely detrimental to his eldest son — Lonzo Ball.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell today reports that Nike, adidas and Under Armour are all uninterested in pursuing a deal with the UCLA All-American. The three sportswear companies informed LaVar that they have no plans to complete a deal with his son.
By in large this issue doesn’t have much to do with Lonzo himself. He’s a potential No. 1 overall pick with limitless upside on the court and cultural relevance in tow. Then there’s his father, who wants his company, Big Baller Brand, licensed by any sportswear company that wants to sign his son. Big Baller Brand is an apparel company that hopes to soon produce footwear. See the problem?
LaVar, in all three meetings with the aforementioned companies, showed a prototype of what he hopes to be Lonzo’s first shoe. Clearly this is a conflict of interest when considering these companies would be paying Lonzo to wear their sneakers. “We’re looking for co-branding, a true partner,” LaVar expressed. “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.”
This is new territory for both an incoming NBA prospect and the brands that hope to sign them. One Nike consultant called LaVar Ball “the worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years.”
Not to be lost in all of this is Lonzo. What kid doesn’t want an endorsement deal with Nike, adidas (Reebok) or UA? Regardless of what he wants those brands aren’t in the cards. At least not any time soon.
