Lonzo Ball has made many memories over his 19-year existence, with the last few months having bred a significant number of unforgettable ones, including designation as a First-Team All-American and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for his basketball feats at UCLA. Ahead of tomorrow’s NCAA Tournament opener in Sacramento, the star point guard can concentrate solely on helping the Bruins to claw their way past Kent State University, as he will face no NCAA sanctions for his image’s since-removed presence on bigballerbrand.com, the website for a lifestyle brand line that his father, LaVar, is hoping to make a massive success.
“Like many schools, UCLA has frequently worked with the NCAA to determine what is and is not allowed within the member-adopted rules,” a Saturday-released joint statement from the governing athletic association and the university said of the matter. “While neither the NCAA nor UCLA will address details of a specific student-athlete’s situation, both are comfortable the appropriate measures have been taken to review the potential issues under NCAA rules and processes regarding Lonzo Ball. As is standard practice, both will continue to work together to monitor this matter.”
The possibility for controversy arose when the University of Southern California placed a call to its fellow Pac-12 constituent school, notifying its athletic rival of the appearance of the teenager’s likeness on the aforementioned site. The Big Baller Brand takes its title as an homage to its founder’s sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo, with the other boys destined to follow in their brother’s footsteps by launching jumpers at Pauley Pavilion. Its About Us section certainly reflects the confidence that the patriarch has not only in his business but also in his offspring’s talent. Belief in the latter has even led the entrepreneur to strive to cement a $1 billion packaged shoe deal for the trio.
With regards to the current apparel, the senior Ball, who launched the site ahead of Lonzo’s UCLA matriculation, a move that further worked to prevent any serious talk of sanctions, is looking to have it take off this summer, as his oldest son will likely be a lottery pick in June 22’s draft if he foregoes his remaining eligibility. Through an SB Nation article, the proud papa noted “Lonzo is going to be the first one drafted with his own brand,” a monumental statement not lost on the author, who takes shots at the apparel for its blandness and price tags.
Regardless of the appeal and the cost, it appears that the adolescent will soon become a very rich young man. Let’s see how that translates into victories for his 29-4 club.
