OT LaVar is costing his son MILLIONS of dollars

[julius]

He's getting in over his head. Disrespectful to females, making fun of Whitlock's weight...

Whats funny is, he (Lavar) is an absolute nobody. He'll eventually run into someone who will not be intimidated by him, and they'll eat him up for lunch.

Can you imagine him trying to talk shit to Marc Cuban, or Paul Allen or the Spurs owner?

He's lucky that the Lakers owner is pretty much a clueless moron who is desperate to become relevant again. If this was Pat Riley he'd look at Lavar and say "there's the door".

 

[Chris Craig]

Lavar is destroying his sons career before it starts. He cost him millions with Nike and Addidas who now want nothing to do with him. He is being an asshole to a lot of people. People aren't going to want to deal with him or Lonzo. He is also putting extreme pressure on his son to accomplish great things in the league. Lonzo is going to implode under the pressure and bust.

 

[Sarni]

He's only going to work out for Lakers and his father openly says that he wants to discourage Celtics from taking him. Not that they'd ever take him ahead of Fultz, but what sort of nonsense is that?

 

[Mediocre Man]

You know I thought he made a mistake with the shoe companies. Then I thought his marketing of BBB was really smart....still do. Now I think he's stepped over the line. I get what he's trying to do, and it's not a bad plan, but he went too far and that will cost him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Would love to see the Lakers not bring him in for a workout. Someone needs to remind Lavar who is in charge

 

[Sarni]

Would love to see the Lakers not bring him in for a workout. Someone needs to remind Lavar who is in charge

They should do that and then select De'Aaron Fox or Josh Jackson. It's not like they are lesser talents either. Make him go to Orlando.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[trailblazer18]

He is trying to Trump his way to the top, same tactics. He could definitely communicate better, but I do think there was a lot of twisting of words to make it seem like he disrespects women. I think he really just didn't want to give that reporter a response because she was a "hater." not because he disrespects women. And plenty of sports personalities make fun of Whitlock's weight, he usually is makes fun of himself as well.

His business idea is genius, give the power/ownership to the player. I don't think Nike and Adidas are scared of Lavar and Lonzo, but they are scared of the idea. If Lebron, KD, or the next version of them moved forward in this manner (Lebron has the resources to do it), it would hurt these companies in a serious way. Not sure any player wants to invest the time and effort to operate their own shoe line, but Lebron is heavy into business outside of bball. I have a feeling things won't end well for Lavar, lots of dirt will come out on him. Nike and Adidas will make sure he goes down in flames.

But why not push for crazy amounts of money? His kids is gonna make millions, so they will have plenty of money. He wants to go Yuuuuge, if not, they have the tens of millions from the NBA contract. Also, he knows it all depends on how good Lonzo is in the NBA. If he is a superstar the money will always be there. If he is a bust, try to get the exposure and money now.

In summary, I think it's really entertaining. I love the business idea, but of course agree that he doesn't need to be so outlandish.

 

[H.C.]

He is trying to Trump his way to the top, same tactics. He could definitely communicate better, but I do think there was a lot of twisting of words to make it seem like he disrespects women. I think he really just didn't want to give that reporter a response because she was a "hater." not because he disrespects women. And plenty of sports personalities make fun of Whitlock's weight, he usually is makes fun of himself as well.

Public opinion matters. I don't follow any sports writers or reporters or whatever Whitlock is.
I did listen to his comment about "snacks" and instantly thought. "Wow he's making fun of people who are overweight".(didn't know whitlock was overweight at this point)
Also it didn't bother me that he refused to look at the female reporter. What bothered me is when he said. "something coming for you".
Which no matter how much he denies it, is a threat.
If I was on the fence about his "brand" before. I wouldn't be after hearing these two things from his own mouth.
He doesn't wish to market to women, that's fine his business his choice. I don't really find that disrespectful. There are plenty of other "brands" that don't market to men. Not a big deal.

But hey at least lavar introduced me to Whitlock, who I had never heard of.

 

[Boob-No-More]

But why not push for crazy amounts of money? His kids is gonna make millions, so they will have plenty of money. He wants to go Yuuuuge, if not, they have the tens of millions from the NBA contract. Also, he knows it all depends on how good Lonzo is in the NBA. If he is a superstar the money will always be there. If he is a bust, try to get the exposure and money now.

That's where he fucked up, IMHO. Ben Simmons got a $20 million guaranteed shoe deal (up to $40 million with incentives). He get's that $20 million even if injuries prevent him from ever setting foot on an NBA court. It's money in the bank.

Lonzo also had multiple shoe companies bidding for him and could have gotten a similar deal, especially since he's expected go to a big market team like the Lakers, but his dad drove those companies away. If Lonzo is a bust, BBB won't take off and they might actually lose money on the brand.

Since he's the oldest of the three brothers, the smart thing to do would have been to take the $20 million (or whatever the best offer would have been) up front, put a large portion of it in the bank to insure you're set for life and use the rest to fund development and marketing of your brand.

Then after five years, if you are indeed a superstar, you go out on your own and launch your own brand. If not, at least you have most of that $20 million (plus your rookie contract earnings) to fall back on.

Even with "just" $20 million (+ salary) that family could have been set for life, and they would still have the opportunity for the REALLY big bucks if Lonzo (or one of the other brothers) does truly become the type of superstar talent that can carry an entire brand.

Now, it's going to be feast or famine, with a very real chance that Lonzo does not live up to the unrealistic expectations his father has created and the BBB brand never takes off. He's already alienated the top shoe companies before his eldest son has even set foot on an NBA court. That was a dumb move. No need to burn those bridges until you know you are holding a winning hand. Let Nike take all the risk (they can afford it) and then branch out on your own if Lonzo does become a breakout superstar.

BNM

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Big Baller Brand is the new LA Gear. haha

 

[Boob-No-More]

Public opinion matters. I don't follow any sports writers or reporters or whatever Whitlock is.
I did listen to his comment about "snacks" and instantly thought. "Wow he's making fun of people who are overweight".(didn't know whitlock was overweight at this point)
Also it didn't bother me that he refused to look at the female reporter. What bothered me is when he said. "something coming for you".
Which no matter how much he denies it, is a threat.
If I was on the fence about his "brand" before. I wouldn't be after hearing these two things from his own mouth.
He doesn't wish to market to women, that's fine his business his choice. I don't really find that disrespectful. There are plenty of other "brands" that don't market to men. Not a big deal.

But hey at least lavar introduced me to Whitlock, who I had never heard of.

Alienating women because women won't be wearing the shoes is another dumb move on his part. The target market for these shoes are young men, that's clear from the brand name he has chosen. His error is that most of those young men will not be the ones actually paying for their shoes. In most families, it's the mom that controls the purse strings and decides how any discretionary money is spent, especially when it comes to big ticket items, which his shoes are, at $500/pair.

Being disrespectful to women alienates a significant number of the people that will have the deciding vote in any clothing purchases.

He finally did answer the question by saying he's sold between 400 and 500 pairs of the Z02 shoes. Why alienate a significant portion of the population and then answer the question anyway? Just answer the fucking question without making an (even bigger) ass of yourself. He gained nothing by being disrespectful.

BNM

 

[trailblazer18]

That's where he fucked up, IMHO. Ben Simmons got a $20 million guaranteed shoe deal (up to $40 million with incentives). He get's that $20 million even if injuries prevent him from ever setting foot on an NBA court. It's money in the bank.

Lonzo also had multiple shoe companies bidding for him and could have gotten a similar deal, especially since he's expected go to a big market team like the Lakers, but his dad drove those companies away. If Lonzo is a bust, BBB won't take off and they might actually lose money on the brand.

Since he's the oldest of the three brothers, the smart thing to do would have been to take the $20 million (or whatever the best offer would have been) up front, put a large portion of it in the bank to insure you're set for life and use the rest to fund development and marketing of your brand.

Then after five years, if you are indeed a superstar, you go out on your own and launch your own brand. If not, at least you have most of that $20 million (plus your rookie contract earnings) to fall back on.

Even with "just" $20 million (+ salary) that family could have been set for life, and they would still have the opportunity for the REALLY big bucks if Lonzo (or one of the other brothers) does truly become the type of superstar talent that can carry an entire brand.

Now, it's going to be feast or famine, with a very real chance that Lonzo does not live up to the unrealistic expectations his father has created and the BBB brand never takes off. He's already alienated the top shoe companies before his eldest son has even set foot on an NBA court. That was a dumb move. No need to burn those bridges until you know you are holding a winning hand. Let Nike take all the risk (they can afford it) and then branch out on your own if Lonzo does become a breakout superstar.

BNM

I agree that there are much smarter ways to go about his business idea, but he seems to be all in on the feast or famine route. Plus this way, Lavar gets fame that he never had, obviously he has a large ego to feed.

 

[Boob-No-More]

He really has no idea how delusional he is. Now that he thinks it's a lock Lonzo will got to the Lakers, he has upped his asking price to the shoe companies to 3 BILLION dollars (insert Dr. Evil laughter here).

He also said this about marketing to women:

"LaVar said he has sold 400 to 500 pairs of the $495 ZO2 shoes, and has no need to market his products to women."

Women may not be wearing his shoes, but in many households, they will be the ones deciding to buy them - or not.

As if I didn't hate the Lakers enough already. All this makes me really want his son to go to the Lakers, to be a total bust and for the Lakers to be stuck on the lottery treadmill SAC style.

BNM

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Big Baller Brand is the new LA Gear. haha

In that it wishes it was the new Avia?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

"LaVar said he has sold 400 to 500 pairs of the $495 ZO2 shoes, and has no need to market his products to women."

Does LaVar think this is a big number? At my job, if a signature shoe sold 500 units in a month, the people who designed it would be fired, the people who hired the designers would be fired, and the people who hired them would be fired too.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Does LaVar think this is a big number? At my job, if a signature shoe sold 500 units in a month, the people who designed it would be fired, the people who hired the designers would be fired, and the people who hired them would be fired too.

Like I said, truly delusional.

BNM

 

[BBert]

He's a fad, and starting to struggle to tread water and stay relevant. He will probably continue to get more deflamatory in each interview until people are bored of him and he returns to the nobody he was before his sons basketball success gave him a podium to spew this useless drivel.

Sounds like a "reality" show candidate

 

[Schilly]

The whole reality awareness thing with Lavar is concerning. The obsurdity of his appraisal of his sons talent is more than off base and then the idea that hey we can out shoe company the shoe companies is just fucking idiotic.

 

[H.C.]

Alienating women because women won't be wearing the shoes is another dumb move on his part. The target market for these shoes are young men, that's clear from the brand name he has chosen. His error is that most of those young men will not be the ones actually paying for their shoes. In most families, it's the mom that controls the purse strings and decides how any discretionary money is spent, especially when it comes to big ticket items, which his shoes are, at $500/pair.

Being disrespectful to women alienates a significant number of the people that will have the deciding vote in any clothing purchases.

He finally did answer the question by saying he's sold between 400 and 500 pairs of the Z02 shoes. Why alienate a significant portion of the population and then answer the question anyway? Just answer the fucking question without making an (even bigger) ass of yourself. He gained nothing by being disrespectful.

BNM

I'm not entirely sure the moms of his market are actually taking time to listen to ball.
If you asked most moms I know(working class moms) they wouldn't know who lavar ball is. Let alone the comments he made to a reporter.
When I was a kid I worked to pay 60$ of the 80$ to buy Iverson's shoe.(Which I still have btw)
My mother knew nothing of his past, nor his "practice rant" that happened shortly before I got the shoes.
If she knew... I have my doubts that she'd let me buy the shoe.

But lets be honest here... These two reporters, Ball made the decision to not take the high ground on.
I don't fault him for being a little upset, they trashed him as a father.
Right or wrong, I don't know any former or current parent who wouldn't be offended by someone questioning their parenting abilities.
Hell a friend of mine posted on her fb a couple days ago about a dm she received from a friend of a friend.
This person told her she was a bad mom due to all the tats & post-gym workout photos she posts to her facebook/instagram.
Heaven forbid she be proud that she takes care of herself, or support her husband... A talented tattoo artist.

Regardless if the truth was being spoken.
I don't think any former or current parent on this board would be too silent with someone trashing their child or their parenting abilities.
I still think Ball should've took the high ground, and not acted like a prepubescent child. But I'm not a parent, so I can't speak on my response to someone questioning my parenting.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm not entirely sure the moms of his market are actually taking time to listen to ball.
If you asked most moms I know(working class moms) they wouldn't know who lavar ball is. Let alone the comments he made to a reporter.
When I was a kid I worked to pay 60$ of the 80$ to buy Iverson's shoe.(Which I still have btw)
My mother knew nothing of his past, nor his "practice rant" that happened shortly before I got the shoes.
If she knew... I have my doubts that she'd let me buy the shoe.

But lets be honest here... These two reporters, Ball made the decision to not take the high ground on.
I don't fault him for being a little upset, they trashed him as a father.
Right or wrong, I don't know any former or current parent who wouldn't be offended by someone questioning their parenting abilities.
Hell a friend of mine posted on her fb a couple days ago about a dm she received from a friend of a friend.
This person told her she was a bad mom due to all the tats & post-gym workout photos she posts to her facebook/instagram.
Heaven forbid she be proud that she takes care of herself, or support her husband... A talented tattoo artist.

Regardless if the truth was being spoken.
I don't think any former or current parent on this board would be too silent with someone trashing their child or their parenting abilities.
I still think Ball should've took the high ground, and not acted like a prepubescent child. But I'm not a parent, so I can't speak on my response to someone questioning my parenting.

I'm sure Michael Jackson's dad used the same justifications.

 

[Orion Bailey]

How does this asshat get 5 pages of posts? Seriously?

 

[H.C.]

I'm sure Michael Jackson's dad used the same justifications.

Excuse my ignorance.. But I never liked his music, nor dancing. + I'm a millennial + music was never really my thing.(well at least people singing as I prefer listening to instruments, not voices.)
Most I know about him is he dyed his skin white??? Maybe? idk was it a disease? or actually idc.
Southpark had an episode on him, and he hung a child out a window? idk? maybe? or actually idc.

Sorry not trying to be disrespectful BC I just don't really know who MJ's dad is. I mean I googled "MJ's dad" and it came back with joe jackson... but I don't really care to know that story.

 

[PDXFonz]

How does this asshat get 5 pages of posts? Seriously?

Personally I'd like to thank lavar ball for his stupid comments which bring entertainment to the boring offseason.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Excuse my ignorance.. But I never liked his music, nor dancing. + I'm a millennial + music was never really my thing.(well at least people singing as I prefer listening to instruments, not voices.)
Most I know about him is he dyed his skin white??? Maybe? idk was it a disease? or actually idc.
Southpark had an episode on him, and he hung a child out a window? idk? maybe? or actually idc.

Sorry not trying to be disrespectful BC I just don't really know who MJ's dad is. I mean I googled "MJ's dad" and it came back with joe jackson... but I don't really care to know that story.

Michael Jackson's dad was an exploitive, abusive father who basically forced his family into show business, then exploited Michael as a child prodigy to make money with the Jackson 5. 90% of Michael's mental illness stems from the abuse he suffered while his dad exploited him to get rich as their manager.

LaVar Ball reminds me of Joe.

 

[H.C.]

Michael Jackson's dad was an exploitive, abusive father who basically forced his family into show business, then exploited Michael as a child prodigy to make money with the Jackson 5. 90% of Michael's mental illness stems from the abuse he suffered while his dad exploited him to get rich as their manager.

LaVar Ball reminds me of Joe.

Oh well okay.
I was attempting to speak more generically though.

For example.
You mentioned in the thread you made when you came back. Your wife and you were deciding if you wanted to have more kids.
If someone(NOT ME) were to say that you're a bad parent because of the little bit of information you shared on this forum. How would you respond?
I could never pretend to be in your shoes for several reasons. But I think you'd tell said person off. I don't think anyone would blame you for doing so either.(maybe you're one of the few who wouldn't dignify an uninformed person with a response)
I think that's somewhat of what Ball was doing to the woman reporter. Regardless if her criticism was warranted or not.
I think he went too far, and should've set an example for at the very least his kids.
People can throw hate at you, and you still show class.
But I personally can't speak on how I'd respond to a reporter, or random person saying my parenting abilities were wrong/bad simply because I don't have children. I can however see why he responded in such a way towards that reporter.

I still think he went too far. As well as the criticism she had for his parenting abilities is very warranted. I just would've never voiced said criticism like she did.
I can just where Ball is coming from.

So there is zero confusion.
I am not questioning your parenting abilities or anyone else.
As I don't know anyone on this forum personally therefore I cannot have an opinion on said parenting abilities.

 

[Reep]

I would do this, but hope L@kers won't:

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/19/nba-draft-lakers-lonzo-ball-deaaron-fox-kentucky-ucla

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would do this, but hope L@kers won't:

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/19/nba-draft-lakers-lonzo-ball-deaaron-fox-kentucky-ucla

Yeah but, but, but...

UCLA losing to Kentucky had nothing to do with De'Aaron Fox absolutely destroying Lonzo Ball, it was because Lonzo's white teammates were too slow. I know it's true. His dad said so and he's a marketing genius who has sold nearly 500 pairs of shoes.

Actually, in this case, it probably was smart to say something totally outrageous to defect attention away from how thoroughly his son was abused by the much quicker Fox.

BNM

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

The whole reality awareness thing with Lavar is concerning. The obsurdity of his appraisal of his sons talent is more than off base and then the idea that hey we can out shoe company the shoe companies is just fucking idiotic.

I'd pay good money to see hidden camera footage of Nike pretending to haggle over buying his shoe company.

Hey Lavar, are you sure you won't take 2 billion? Just string him along until he catches on. Would be amazing.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would do this, but hope L@kers won't:

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/19/nba-draft-lakers-lonzo-ball-deaaron-fox-kentucky-ucla

And please don't let the Lakers front office see this article. I REALLY won't them to draft Lonzo Ball, not because his dad is a jackass, not because I want the kid to fail, but because I think he's a poor fit next to D'Angelo Russell. The author makes a very good point. Both Russell and Ball are too slow footed to guard quick NBA point guards - which is one of Fox's biggest strengths. A Russell/Ball backcourt would get lit up nightly by today's fast, scoring point guards.

So, if the Lakers pass on Ball, who takes him. His dad has made it clear he doesn't want him playing anywhere but LA. The next seven teams all have a need at PG, but which one has the balls to say fuck LaVar and drafts his kid?

BNM