It looks like the stars aligned for the success of LaMelo Ball, who not only comes from a famous basketball family (his dad is Lavar Ball) but has followed in the footsteps of his father and brothers (Lonzo Ball and LiAngelo Ball). His entry to the NBA might have come in an unusual season, but LaMelo looks keen on being a force in the league. He was the third overall pick for the Hornets in the 2020 NBA draft and made his debut on December 23, 2020. LaMelo Ball quickly proved his worth when on January 9, 2021 he made history as the youngest player with a triple-double, beating the record set by Markelle Fultz by 177 days.
The lucrative Puma deal
Before getting into the 2020 NBA draft, LaMelo made a surprise announcement that he was signing with Puma. The deal is reported to be worth $100 million, and one of the main reasons the brand chose the Ball is that he is as atypical as they come. This deal surprised many people as LaMelo had an initial agreement with the family brand, Big Baller Brand. However, analysts saw this as a brilliant move for the Hornets point guard as it allows him to make big waves in the NBA while being a face of the upcoming superstars.
The Big Baller Brand Signature Shoes
At the age of 16, LaMelo Ball already had his signature shoes thanks to the Big Baller Brand, the family brand headed by his father. He rocked these shoes while playing in New Zealand and Lithuania. However, he chose to separate from the brand once he set his eyes on playing for the NBA.
LaMelo Ball wears shoe size 8, and while he has just made his entry into the NBA, so much is expected from the young baller. Fans are counting on his performance in the coming season as Puma hopes that he will propel the brand to greater heights. Remarkably, there is a lot of anticipation for Puma to launch Ball’s signature line of shoes in the coming years. So far, LaMelo Ball has been seen rocking the following shoe models;
- Puma Clyde All-Pro
This is the third ‘Clyde’ line of shoes by Puma to make a major entry into the high-performance basketball sneakers world. It is defined with its slim, low-cut profile and stylish touches that are complemented with a grippy parquet-pattern rubber outsole. To support player movements in the court, it has a superlight frame and cushy Profoam Lite midsole.
- Big Baller Brand MB1
These were the first signature shoes that LaMelo Ball released when he was with the Big Baller Brand. The MB1 stands for Melo Ball 1, and it was a low-top design with woven textiles and camouflage knits. It further had its branding on the heel and tongue, with the first sneakers having pink accents that contrasted the camouflaged knit upper. When these shoes were released to the market, they had a price tag of $395, which is higher than most basketball sneakers from other brands.