BuckNekked

May 5th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^

I wouldnt say the kid is a DB just yet but his dad certainly is. 500 for shoes, another 200 if bigger than 14s and another 500 if you want the signature series. 1200 bucks for shoes? SMH.

BursleyBaitsBus

May 5th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^

The thing is... I'm fine with what Lavar is doing in that there should be more independent branding outside of the big 3. More competition means consumers win.

Who says you can't brand yourself and make all the money off your name for your true value?

Problem is Lavar is just doing it all wrong

BursleyBaitsBus

May 5th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^

I would've liked to see him take a smaller deal from the Big 3 and then start their own distribution once all 3 brothers are professionals. 

He may have cost them in the short term, but in the long term with some design modifications, proper rebranding and success of his kids, BBB can be something.

FauxMo

May 5th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^

Oh sure, in the short run it might work out slightly advantageous. There is a good ESPN article on this out there. Basically, collectors will buy them the first run. But then what? There is far less long-term appeal for a $500 shoe...

stephenrjking

May 5th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^

Wow, I actually think you're totally right. Of course, nobody needs our permission, free country and all. But as absurd as I thought Lavar was being when he tried to strongarm the big three shoe companies, the announcement that they had designed and produced their own shoe line sounded... inventive to me.

Of course, it's Lavar Ball. And the headline shoe costs $495. So, as you say, he's doing it all wrong. But I'd love to see someone else try to go it alone and do it right. 

BursleyBaitsBus

May 5th, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^

I didn't say he was doing it correctly. 

Ball is trying to sprint before crawling. Idk how that's going to play out. 

 

Making a compettive priced shoe for less than 100 would've been the optimal play, since most kids who ball can't afford 500 dollar shoes. 

It would have also garnered him some positive word of mouth from people. 

maizenblue92

May 5th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^

You're right. It is a fine idea poorly executed. The biggest problem is Lavar Ball doesn't want to go through the struggle of underselling the big 3 with an $85 shoe or something like that to get his foot in the door, so to speak. He wants it all right now and with no name recognition selling a shoe for more than a Nike shoe costs is stupid.

SeattleWolverine

May 5th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^

You ask why "you can't brand yourself and make all the money off your name for your true value?"

 

That's a legit question for Lonzo Ball to consider. But there is no indication that he is the one driving this process, from the outside it certainly looks like it is Lavar- the guy who doesn't have any value- making the decisions on behalf of the adult who does have the value. That's exploitive, even if they are family. His son is an adult now and gonna be a pro. He can make his own decisions. And if he wants to enlist professionals to formulate a strategy for branding himself, he can find ones with proven skills and experience who will do a better job than his Dad has so far. Ditto that for the other kids, they won't really have established value until they have college success and then at that point they are adults too. 

 

The Krusty Kra…

May 5th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

Kent. Friggin. Bazemore. Lonzo would make far more money without his dad shouting and scaring off GM's and making sure LeBron clowns his ass next season. The NBA is the one league where you don't want to make enemies (except SAS because he is a prissy studio gangster *looks at KD*) the players have the most power compared to any other major league. I personally think Lavar acting a fool makes it much harder for Lonzo to succeed, which I would like to see.

trueblueintexas

May 5th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^

He very well may be drafted in the top 2, but having an outspoken parent like Lavar who is also using his sons as a "business plan" very well could scare off some teams to where he drops. For a top 5 pick it's not just about the first three years of the fixed NBA contract, it's about the negotation three years from now. Some GM's may say no thank you to dealing with that potential shit show. 

In the short term, it also has an impact. It's still great money for the majority of people, but there is a pretty good decline from the #1 or #2 pick to the #5 pick. (#1 pick averages $5.14M over 3 years and #5 averages $3.37M over 3 years). If he dropped just two spots, that's millions of dollars different.

 

BursleyBaitsBus

May 5th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^

Hey I already said he's doing it wrong, but there's something to be said about wanting to be your own boss. 

 

I can respect Lavar for what he's trying to do and still say he can do better. 

 

Coming out with a $500 shoe is just dumb when people can just buy cheaper Big 3 shoes. 

This goes without saying the dumb shit he says on the airwaves. 

uncle leo

May 5th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^

This isn't going out and starting your own flower shop or glass cleaning company.

These are professional athletes who go into a market that will NEVER be broken by outsiders (Nike, Adidas, UA, etc. will never be beaten). All they need to do is smile, shake a few hands, and they'll be given a massive endorsement deal with that company and can still basically design their own logo along with the main company's logo. When people think UA Basketball shoes, they think "Curry" not "UA".

 

BursleyBaitsBus

May 5th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^

I'm sure someone said the same thing about Nike and Adidas being the rulers of the industry until UA blew up and became super popular about a decade ago. 

Now you have 3 companies. It's hard obviously but there shouldn't be any reason why there can't be a 4th 5th etc... (unless there's illegal collusion etc) 

Mr Miggle

May 5th, 2017 at 4:27 PM ^

If a company is to break into the big time in athletic apparal, isn't it going to be based primarily on the quality of their products? I can't see it happening based on having one loud mouthed spokesman or several endorsers. The Ball brothers aren't Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.

Why does anyone (other than the man himself) think LaVar Ball is designing a superior shoe or anyhing else? 

 

Blue Baughs

May 5th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^

It would be awesome to see the entire NBA  decide to not draft Ball thanks to the shit show surrounding him already.



This has to be the worst marketing strategy of any athlete ive ever seen. Time to sit Dad down, and seperate from him business wise.

 

Guy Fawkes

May 5th, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^

Forget Zach Smith, he's a nobody. However, the shade Dick Vitale is throwing at Ball is priceless. Get em Dickie V!