LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball is the starting point guard for the Charlotte Hornets and the first PUMA signature basketball athlete since the brand’s resurgence on the hardwood in 2018. A native of Chino Hills, California, Ball is the youngest of the Ball Brothers; Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball. The sons of LaVar Ball quickly amassed nationwide stardom for their electric style of play that saw half-court three-point attempts and LaMelo’s own 92-point game broadcasted across social media. All three of the brothers held offers from UCLA, but the eldest Lonzo would be the only brother to step foot onto the Westwood campus.

After being pulled out of high school ahead of his junior season, LaMelo began his professional career with Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League. In an effort reinstate his NCAA eligibility, Ball returned to the states and finished his senior season at Spire Institute in Ohio.

In preparation for his journey to the NBA, LaMelo then signed a two-year contract with the Illawara Hawks of the National Basketball League in Australia. Averaging 17 points, 7.6 rebounds and nearly seven assists in his lone season Down Under catapulted him to the third overall selection in the 2020 Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

A month before his selection, Ball signed an endorsement deal with PUMA that was reportedly in excess of around $100 million. Headlining the brand’s return to basketball, Ball debuted his first signature silhouette, the PUMA MB.01 to an overwhelming amount of fanfare the following October after the then 20-year-old was named the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Currently, PUMA and the recent All-Star are in the midst of releasing the PUMA MB.03, which you can learn about more below.