In the whole world of sports, one family is the most talked about and controversial of the year, and that’s none apart from the football family. Led by his own speaker, Lavar Ball and his superstar footballer sons Lonzo, Liangelo and Lamelo became the talk of the sporting world. Through his brand and training, Lavar has turned his sons into megastars. Lonzo has been established as a star and given the keys to the Los Angeles Lakers, while his brother Liangelo prepares for his freshman year at UCLA, and Lamelo is still thinking about his pre-cals at just 16 years old.
Image by Slam.com
In the sneaker community, the ball family shocked the world by releasing Lonzo’s first signature model through their family brand, Big Baller Brand (BBB). Lonzo’s first shoe was revealed during the spring season and was dubbed the “ZO2” and shocked the world with a price label of $495. After months of controversy, talk has quieted down as people see the move as monumental and groundbreaking, but Big Baller Brand takes it one step further. Lavar decided to make more noise by gifting his youngest son Lamelo with his first signature “Melo Ball 1” shoe.
At just 16 years old, Lamelo was the first highschool athlete to have his own signature shoe. We may question his NCAA viability at a later date, but let’s focus on his breakthrough history first. Big Baller Brand continues to amaze the world and come up with innovative ways to break the systemic culture of comfort for the sneaker world. To make new rules, you must break them and that is the move that was made and Big Baller Brand is prepared for the culture.
The “Melo Ball 1” contains a low top silhouette, “shock absorbing material” and a flyknit camo top. Melo designed the shoe himself and the style gives off a fun, youthful feel that is certain to entice many fans to pick it up, despite its $395 price label. The shoes are slick and completely eye-catching, which is what we would expect less from Big Baller Brand. Check out the first promo for shoes from SLAM and the pictures below and see if this 16 year old earns your sneakers respect.
*Image by Slam.inc.
