Lakers G Lonzo Ball will make his Summer League debut Friday night in Las Vegas, and he is "expected to make his debut in his ZO2 sneaker that is sold" under the Big Baller Brand, according to Kareem Copeland of the AP. There seem to be as "many questions surrounding the shoe as there are buyers." At $495 per pair, the shoe is "only available through the Big Baller Brand website, along with other apparel." No players were "seen playing in the shoe during summer league action" in Orlando and Salt Lake City earlier this week. Consumers have been "able to pre-order the product that isn't scheduled to be shipped until November," but it is "unclear how many pairs have been sold since they're only available through the website and those numbers haven't been made public." While some Summer League players "aren't fans of the shoe, they support the concept." 76ers G Melo Trimble said, "I wish I could do the same thing. I don't like (the design), but as far as coming up with the idea, that's cool for him." Celtics F Semi Ojeleye said that he "wouldn't wear them either." However, he added, "If (Ball) plays well, then he can definitely get something going with that brand" (AP, 7/7).
A FAMILY AFFAIR: The September issue of SLAM Magazine features the Ball brothers on the cover with a story by LaVar Ball in which he describes the idea behind creating Big Baller Brand. He writes, “All we want to do is plant the seed and watch it grow. Show people that it can be done. Show parents that it’s possible: We don’t need the big companies. They need us. And so we should work together.” Big Baller Brand “wants to show the next generation that there’s a difference between building wealth and just being rich.” Ball: "This isn’t about getting that early money -- just another athlete signing a regular endorsement deal. That would have been the easier route.” Big Baller Brand wants to go “beyond just inspiring athletes.” Ball: “We just want to inspire people and show them that there’s a different lane you can travel in.” Meanwhile, he writes the family is "happy with the quality" of the brand’s ZO2s. Ball: "I would never put my own son in a shoe that’s going to put him at risk of getting hurt” (SLAM, 9/ '17 issue).
