A support deal with Nike, Under Armor or Adidas is not in the cards for Lonzo Ball.

Lonzo Ball UCLA

Ball's father, LaVar, confirmed that the three shoe and clothing companies told him they were not interested in settling the deal with his son. Sources with the three companies told ESPN.com that they are indeed moving.

Never in the history of modern shoe support, big companies have all stepped away from potential pick tops almost two months before the NBA draft. But LaVar, who has represented Lonzo in the deal, has offered something with no precedent.

In his meeting with the three companies, LaVar insisted that they allow its first Big Brand Baller from him, according to the company. He also shows to the shoe prototype company that he hopes will be Lonzo's first shoe.

"We have said from the beginning, we are not looking for an endorsement agreement," LaVar told ESPN. "We are looking for a co-branding, a real couple. But they're not ready for it because they're not familiar with the model, but hey, the taxi industry is not ready for Uber either."

"We have been saying from the beginning we are not looking for an endorsement deal, we are looking for colleagues, real partners, but they are not ready for that because they are not familiar with the model but the taxi industry is not ready for Uber.
LaVar ball
Last week, consultant Nike George Raveling, at SportsBusiness Journal's World Congress of Sports, called LaVar "the worst thing that happened to basketball in the last hundred years."

The way LaVar sees it, Raveling's comment is an indication of what old businesspeople say when ways of doing things change.

"Imagine how rich Tiger [Woods], Kobe [Bryant], Serena [Williams], [Michael] Jordan and LeBron [James] would do if they dared to do their own thing," LaVar said. "Nobody has their own brand before turning in. We do it, and I have three sons, so it's worth more."

Lonzo announced for the draft after a season at UCLA. Other LaVar children are also committed to UCLA, including LiAngelo, who arrived on campus this year, and LaMelo, who recently completed his sophomore season in high school.

Ball will not reveal how big Brand Big Baller has become - the company sells hats and shirts ranging from $ 38 to $ 100 on its website - but he says that the current sales amount should not be thought of by the shoe company. .

"When Facebook buys WhatsApp for $ 19 billion, those people are not profitable," LaVar said.

Now that the traditional shoe company is out, Ball says that he will reach the Chinese brands, including Peak, Li-Ning and Anta, and he does not count to take out entrepreneurial partners outside the business.

"That includes Facebook," he said.

Ball says that he does have a prototype for Lonzo's first shoe.

"We will not sign a contract with the company and then wait for five or six years to buy shoes as Paul George has to wait with Nike," Ball said.

When asked how long he had worked on Lonzo's shoe design, Ball said, "I've been working on those shoes since my son was born."

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