Throughout the off-season and pre-season, we have learned of multiple players switching and/or leaving sneaker brands such as Kevin Garnett (now with Anta), Derek Fisher (now with adidas) and Gilbert Arenas (no longer with adidas). Los Angeles Lakers small forward Ron Artest is the latest player to make news on the sneaker front. Artest will no longer wear PEAK, as he has switched to upstart brand Ball’N.
Ball’N, a footwear/apparel brand, was started by Chicago native Rodney Jeter in 1991. Ball’N has been providing apparel to the basketball circuit in Chicago since the mid-90s; however, its newly-designed sneaker collection will debut in retailers during the spring of 2011.
Ron Artest will be the first NBA player to wear Ball’N sneakers. These performance-based sneakers are centered around the newly-discovered d3o technology. Supposedly, the lightweight, flexible material specializes in protection more than any performance attribute.
Look for Ron Artest to wear his new Ball’N sneaker in tonight’s Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers game. Meanwhile, view photos of the Ball’N shoe, along with a photo of Ron Artest, below. What are your thoughts on this new sneaker?
Source: SC / Ron Artest / Yahoo / balln
