LaMelo Ball doesn’t take the generational wealth his family has laid before him lightly.
According to Edition, the NBA All-Star leans into being a part of the legacy family that makes up the Ball crew.
His father, LaVar, is a prominent businessman, who is an equally proud (and loud) parent.
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What’s more, LaMelo’s older brother, Lonzo, took the league by storm when he became one of the top prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft. One may say that he’s following in his sibling’s footsteps, but the budding star is equally carving out a lane of his own.
The Deal Of A Lifetime
The forthcoming 2023-2024 season will be LaMelo’s fourth year in the NBA, and it’s bound to be one for the books after inking a five-year, $260 million extension.
LaMelo, however, is more concerned with maintaining his gifts and talents, while using his success to benefit the people who are close to him.
“It’s something to get when you work hard, I guess,” he said in an interview with the outlet. “It’s cool to care for some of your people. It’s blessings that way. I just wanna keep working and keep my head on straight, staying in the gym and, hopefully, more will come.”
The Art Of Penny Pinching
While the 22-year-old may come from a family that is pretty well-off, he also is mindful when it comes to flexing his riches. Based on the report, LaMelo has yet to ball out with his earnings.
“Ball hasn’t splurged on a major purchase since signing the lucrative deal,” Edition’s Michael Saponara said.
Instead, LaMelo is strategically considering which cars he plans to purchase for himself before making a big commitment — much like he did before joining the league.
Prior to being selected as the third overall 2020 NBA Draft pick, the Chino Hills, CA, native landed a deal with PUMA, estimated to be worth $100 million.
At the same time, he took a page from his father’s book, and launched his own upscale streetwear brand, LaFrancé.
Betting On Himself
“Just being around my pops – and he was always big on that, starting the whole Big Baller Brand – I wanted to start my own thing,” LaMelo explained to the outlet.
Ahead of the upcoming NBA Season, the basketball superstar partnered with the shoe company to design the PUMA MB.03, which he will be sporting on the court this year. This was the first time that his LaFrancé brand was featured in the creative process.
“All of the designs come from my head when I sit down with the creators,” said LaMelo to Edition. “Everything comes from my mind and I put it on the shoes.”
He continued, “It’s everything you could really dream of as a kid. I can pretty much do what I want with the colors. My whole identity is thrown on the shoe and I don’t know if everyone has as much say [as I do]. Over here, I got a lot of say and get to put whatever I want on my shoe when it comes to how it looks.”
As the return of the NBA quickly approaches, LaMelo aims to shine both on and off the court, allowing his gifts and talents to continue to make room for him.
