It’s wild that LaVar Ball was seemingly everywhere back in 2017 and 2018. But I must give him credit — he’s basically avoided the spotlight and controversy since his sons, Lonzo and LaMelo, reached the NBA.
But the outspoken basketball dad could only stay silent for so long. And as both Lonzo and LaMelo have seen promising NBA careers plagued with injury problems, LaVar has taken aim at LaMelo’s shoe supplier, Puma.
In an interview with CBS Sports, LaVar voiced his frustrations with both NBA conditioning programs and the quality of Puma’s basketball shoes. He said via CBS Sports:
“They’ve been trained hard enough? No, no, no,” he says. “Because you condition your body for running and jumping. You’ve got to condition your legs. So that’s why I always have my boys in them hills and running hard in them hills. That will make you run like a deer when you get on that court, so you won’t be getting hurt. A lot of things have to do with them raggedy shoes that Melo be wearing. Them shoes are not made the right way for him. That’s why he keeps tweaking his ankle every single time.”
Lonzo has not appeared in an NBA game since January of 2022 as he’s dealt with chronic knee issues. Lonzo, of course, started his career with a Big Baller Brand signature shoe before distancing himself from the brand amid controversy. LaMelo signed a 10-year deal with Puma in 2020 rumored to be worth $100 million. And despite his All-Star play when available, LaMelo will end his 2023-24 season with just 22 games played and 36 last season.
