Odds Heavily Favor Lonzo Ball’s Next Shoe Contract Being with Nike
- Lonzo Ball is set to leave Big Baller Brand
- The Lakers guard posted a message on Instagram teasing Nike as a possible business partner
- During his rookie season Ball wore Nike shoes during Summer League and regular season games
Lonzo Ball is a free agent. A shoe endorsement contract free agent, that is.
With Big Baller Brand floundering, Ball actually got a tattoo covering up the BBB he had stamped on his arm. All of this leads to the obvious conclusion that Ball will be wearing a new set of kicks next time he takes to the court. Sportsbooks have released odds to help keep you interested on which company is the next “big brand” to land the Los Angeles Lakers guard.
Lonzo Ball Next Shoe Contract Odds
| Which Shoe Company Will Sign Lonzo Ball? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nike | -225 |
| Adidas | +500 |
| Puma | +500 |
| Under Armour | +700 |
| New Balance | +1200 |
| Balenciaga | +2000 |
| Louis Vitton | +2000 |
*Odds taken 03/29/19
Whoever you want to blame for the Big Baller Brand demise it’s tough to call it anything other than a failure. That said, Lonzo is a smart kid with a strong brand and would be a big get for any of the companies listed above. Despite the price tag attached, I think it’s clear that betting on Nike is what provides the best value.
When it comes to the Lonzo Ball situation, @RealJayWilliams and @JalenRose doesn't want this to discourage other players from owning their own businesses. pic.twitter.com/vK1sLE8JN5
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 25, 2019
Ball Has Worn Nike Shoes Before
During his rookie season in the NBA Ball was seen wearing Nike’s on the court now and then. When Ball wasn’t rocking Big Baller Brand, he rocked shoes from Kobe Bryant’s signature line as well as the Air Jordan 31’s during part of both the regular season and the Las Vegas summer league.
Lakers G Lonzo Ball looking to remove every trace of BBB from his life.
The latest: Tattoo coverup.
(?: TheBlast/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/5AkM6yYNoZ
— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 27, 2019
Fans believe it’s always about the dollar figure but largely, athletes are creatures of habit. After two seasons of injuries to the lower half of his body, Ball will want to wear a shoe he trusts when he returns next season. The line that makes the most sense is the one he’s worn with success before, Nike.
Ball Leaving Hints on Social Media
Back in the day you needed to do some pretty deep digging if you wanted to find bread crumbs as to where an athlete might sign a deal like this. In 2019, all you need to do is log on to Instagram.
.@ZO2_ just posted this on Instagram. Is he leaving Big Baller Brand for Nike? ? pic.twitter.com/eWbW41TNlQ
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) March 23, 2019
Ball posted a picture that referenced Nike’s famous “just do it” slogan less than a week ago. It certainly seems like he’s teasing a move to the shoe giant. Could he just be trying to create a bidding war between different companies? Sure. But it certainly seems more likely he posted this with the purpose of leaving Big Baller Brand in favor of the iconic Nike brand.
As much fun as it is to imagine Ball running the fast break while wearing Louis Vitton shoes, the most obvious and realistic answer here is Nike. Betting Nike will only cost you -225 and all signs point to it being the right decision.
Pick: Nike (-225)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
