Sneaker News 
Elena Delle Donne, the 2015 WNBA MVP and current star for the Washington Mystics, took to Twitter recently to unabashedly insult Lonzo Ball’s signature shoes, the Big Baller Brand ZO2. Delle Donne, who is a Nike Basketball athlete and had her own Hyperdunk PE release last Summer, seems to think it would be “great” if Lonzo blew out his shoe during his first NBA Summer League game and further notes that the promising Laker draftee should have signed with Nike. Lonzo and his father Lavar famously declined a contract offer from Nike, adidas, and Under Armour.
How great would it be if @ZO2_ blew out his shoe in his first summer league game? should have gone with @Nike
— Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) July 8, 2017
This is all too reminiscent of a similar Twitter incident back in 2012 when Nike footwear designer Jason Petrie openly mocked Derrick Rose after he suffered a severe knee injury. Petrie, who is primarily recognized as LeBron James’ Nike shoe designer, has yet to make any PR-related appearances on behalf of Nike since that incident. Rose’s career trajectory took a massive detour is was unable to regain his MVP-level form.
You got one guy only getting stronger, and one guy breaking down before our very eyes. You chose poorly Pooh… #shouldasignedwithNIKE #GWS
— Jason Petrie (@sevenzro1) April 28, 2012
Elena Delle Donne was not wishing any sort of injury to Lonzo and was merely commenting on the shoes, but the Twitter community did not take her choice of words kindly and the backlash was heavy. Delle Donne went on to explain that shoes “blow out” or tear regularly from heavy use and found it funny if the shoes went down during his first game.
Let’s get it straight people! I’m not talking about him getting hurt! Give me a break! I’m talking about his BBB shoe tearing.
— Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) July 8, 2017
