Lonzo Ball, once regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft, has opened up about his long-standing injury issues and his less-than-positive experience with his father’s Big Baller Brand shoes. In an interview with ESPN published on Thursday, Lonzo Ball reflected on how the shoes, which his father LaVar Ball designed and promoted, might have contributed to his injury woes.
As a rookie, the NBA selected Lonzo second overall in the draft, and Big Baller Brand initially gave him a pair of shoes to wear during the summer league. However, Lonzo Ball wasn’t a fan of the design, likening them to “kickball shoes.” He wore them just twice before opting to buy his own high-end shoes from Foot Locker in Las Vegas for the remainder of the games. Throughout the summer league, Lonzo Ball wore shoes from brands like Air Jordan, Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, eventually going on to win summer league MVP honors.
LaVar Ball later partnered with Skechers to produce shoes under the Big Baller Brand name. Despite this change, Lonzo still wasn’t satisfied with the footwear, suggesting that the shoes may have contributed to the injuries that have plagued his career. “I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you,” Lonzo Ball said. “I didn’t really hurt myself like that until I started wearing them.”
In addition to the issues with his shoes, Lonzo speculated that years of training on the hard concrete courts at Chino Hills State Park could have exacerbated the cartilage issues in his knees, which ultimately led to multiple surgeries, including a meniscus and cartilage transplant. These injuries caused him to miss two full seasons of play.
This season, Lonzo has returned to the court but has only played in six games, limited by a wrist injury that has kept him from seeing consistent playing time.
While injuries have marred Lonzo’s career, his father’s Big Baller Brand has faced a tumultuous existence, enduring legal battles, fractured relationships, and earning a notably poor reputation, including an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. Despite these challenges, Big Baller Brand persists, largely due to Lonzo’s investment in the venture, and you can still find LaVar Ball-autographed shoes for sale at a premium price of $5,000.
As Lonzo looks ahead, his past experiences with Big Baller Brand and his ongoing injury struggles have added a complex layer to his career in the NBA.
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