Sneaker News 
While nothing may ever surpass the level of hype that LeBron James received before being selected first overall in the 2003 draft, Lonzo Ball may have more of a spotlight than the King ever did. That’s mostly in part due to his outspoken father Lavar, who went as far as claiming he’d beat Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one in their respective primes. That’s not the only outlandish statement father Ball has allowed to spill out of his mouth, and his penchant for the limelight has clearly rubbed some individuals the wrong way – namely George Raveling, an influential figure in basketball and current executive at Nike. He says Lavar Ball is “the worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years”, which may suggest that Nike wouldn’t want to deal with the Lonzo’s baggage.
Of course, one of Lavar Ball’s most laughable statements was his $1 billion demand from a shoe company to sign all three Ball brothers. Lonzo, while talented, has yet to play in an NBA game, while siblings LiAngelo is entering college this Fall and LaMelo is still in High School. Lavar also manages his family’s personal label called Big Baller Brand, which currently sells screen-printed t-shirts for $50.
Wow, veteran Nike exec George Raveling on LaVar Ball: “The worst thing to happen to basketball in the last hundred years.” #sbjwcs
— Michael Smith (@SmittySBJSBD) April 20, 2017
