Lonzo Ball had incredible potential that, largely due to injuries, has yet to be reached. He was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, his hometown team. Ball entered the NBA with all eyes on him, largely due to his talent but also because of the loud and boisterous promotion of his father, LaVar Ball. LaVar created the Big Baller Brand (BBB) to promote his son and himself, but recently, there have been questions about whether Big Baller Brand shoes were the reason for the first Lonzo injury. This injury and all his subsequent ones have made the most common question around him: is Lonzo Ball playing tonight? Recently, he is back in the Bulls lineup and is hopefully there to stay.
Are Big Baller Brand Shoes To Blame For The First Lonzo Injury?
Big Baller Brand Shoes
In a recent ESPN feature, Lonzo opened up about the complications of wearing Big Baller Brand shoes during his rookie season.
“They were like kickball shoes,” he said.
The lack of quality in the sneakers may have caused major ripples in Lonzo’s career. The issue started during the 2017 Summer League when Lonzo struggled to play in the shoes. After two games, he quickly stopped playing in them, instead switching between other basketball shoes, including Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour. His performance in these alternative shoes earned him the title of Summer League MVP.
LaVar tried to improve the shoe. He eventually partnered with Sketchers to make the shoe better. In the ESPN interview, Lonzo suggested the shoes may have contributed to the meniscus injury he suffered during his rookie season.
“I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you,” Lonzo said. “I wasn’t really getting hurt like that until I started wearing them.”
The First Lonzo Injury
The meniscus injury Lonzo got in his rookie season was the beginning of a series of knee problems that completely changed Lonzo’s career. After a cartilage and meniscus transplant, multiple surgeries, and more than 1,000 days of recovery, Ball finally returned this season. He still hasn’t returned to his old form, though. He is averaging just 16.2 minutes across six games while managing lingering issues, including a sprained wrist.
Bad Baller Brand
The BBB company has experienced its share of issues as well. Once a significant part of the basketball world, BBB has faced legal disputes, fractured relationships, and widespread criticism. They even earned an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. The brand still exists, largely because of Lonzo’s investment. It continues to sell products, although it is unclear who would want to buy them.
As Lonzo tries to make a full and successful return to the court, there is no doubt that he wants to put the BBB days behind him. They say you don’t mix family and business, and Lonzo’s story may be a good reason not to. Regardless, it is nice to see Lonzo back on the court, and if he can tap into his old potential, he could be a key piece for the Bulls moving forward.
