Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, who has spent much of his NBA career battling injuries, recently made a shocking revelation about his father LaVar Ball’s sneaker and apparel company, Big Baller Brand. According to Lonzo, his persistent injuries may have started when he began wearing the sneakers produced by his father’s company.
Lonzo claimed that he “wasn’t really getting hurt” until he switched to Big Baller Brand shoes, suggesting a direct link between the footwear and his health issues.
Lonzo Ball, now 27, has made just six appearances for the Chicago Bulls this season after missing the entire last two years due to injury. In the 2021-22 season, the most recent season before his return, Ball managed to play only 35 games before being sidelined. His NBA career has been severely impacted by injuries, despite his early promise as a highly-touted prospect.
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the #2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball entered the league with considerable hype after a standout year at UCLA. He spent two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. After a stint with the Pelicans, Ball eventually found his way to Chicago, where his career has continued to be hampered by injuries.
In a recent in-depth interview with ESPN, Lonzo spoke openly about his journey back to the NBA, which was framed as his “1,000-day return to the NBA.” During the interview, Ball did not hold back when discussing his struggles and his disappointment with Big Baller Brand. He pointed a finger at the shoes his father’s company produced, even going so far as to refer to them as “kickball shoes,” and implying that they may have been a contributing factor to his injury woes.
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“I was an Adidas kid since high school, so I was thinking that was going to be the route,” Ball said in the interview. “But what was told to me, I guess, wasn’t what really happened. I was told that nobody wanted to partner with me, so my dad was like, ‘Just rock the brand.’ And I was like, ‘All right,’” Lonzo explained. He went on to add, “They were like kickball shoes,” showing his frustration with the quality of the sneakers.
Ball also spoke about the connection between Big Baller Brand shoes and his injuries, recalling his first major setback during his rookie season. “I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you,” Ball said about the shoes contributing to his injuries. “I wasn’t really getting hurt like that until I started wearing them.”
In January 2018, during his first season with the Lakers, Ball suffered a meniscus injury, which marked the beginning of a series of health issues that would plague his career.
The revelation casts a spotlight on the controversial history of Big Baller Brand, which was launched by LaVar Ball with much fanfare but quickly became infamous for its high prices and poor delivery.
The sneakers, which were sold for $495, faced numerous complaints from customers who experienced long delays and issues with receiving their orders.
The brand aimed to establish itself as a major player in the sports apparel market, but its struggles were well-documented, and Lonzo’s comments only add to the narrative of its shortcomings.
These days, Big Baller Brand seems to have moved on from its initial focus on Lonzo and his brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo.
A visit to the brand’s website no longer features Lonzo or LaMelo on the homepage; instead, LaVar Ball is prominently featured alongside two other men his age. The brand’s pivot away from the Ball brothers suggests that the relationship between Lonzo and the family business has soured, particularly given his recent comments.
In recent years, LaVar Ball, once a constant presence in the media, has noticeably receded into the background.
His larger-than-life personality and relentless promotion of his sons initially drew significant attention, but it also brought criticism and scrutiny.
It appears that LaVar may have come to realize that his actions were, at times, doing more harm than good for his sons, especially as Lonzo’s career became defined by injury setbacks.
For Lonzo Ball, the journey back to the court has been a challenging one, filled with physical and emotional hurdles. His candid comments about Big Baller Brand offer a glimpse into the difficulties he faced as he tried to balance family loyalty with the demands of a professional basketball career.
As Lonzo continues to work toward regaining his form and staying healthy, his focus remains on proving himself on the court, away from the shadow of the brand that he now believes may have hindered his potential.
