Nike, Under Armour and Adidas are "not in the cards" for NBA prospect Lonzo Ball as his father, LaVar, "confirmed that the three shoe and apparel companies informed him that they were not interested in doing a deal with his son," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Never in the history of modern day shoe endorsements have the big companies all "stepped away from a potential top pick nearly two months before the NBA draft." In his meetings with the three, LaVar Ball "insisted that the company license his upstart Big Baller Brand from him." He also "showed the companies a shoe prototype that he hoped would be Lonzo's first shoe." LaVar Ball said, "We've said from the beginning, we aren't looking for an endorsement deal. We're looking for co-branding, a true partner. But they're not ready for that because they're not used to that model." LaVar Ball would "not disclose how big the Big Baller Brand has become." However, he said that current sales numbers "shouldn't have been on the mind of the shoe companies" (ESPN.com, 4/28).
