Lonzo Ball. LaVar Ball. Lonzo Ball. LaVar Ball. Lonz...... You see where I'm going here.
Prior to last week's NBA draft, these two names were the most talked about among the league; and only one of them is a player. The other? His outspoken dad.
I'll preface my thoughts by admitting that I don't watch a lot of NCAA basketball. I'm more of an NBA guy. But, like most sports fan, I fill out a March Madness bracket every year and watch closely. Aside from that, I might catch a handful of other games throughout the season. So, obviously, I wasn't too aware of the superstars of the college hoops season this year.
But I learned one name real quick. Lonzo Ball; the superstar from UCLA. And how did I learn of this guy? Not by watching him (I missed UCLA's opening tournament game). It was from an interview with LaVar Ball.
I can't recall exactly what was said, but I remember thinking "Is this guy crazy?! He's gonna ruin his son's chances at the NBA,". Surely no team would want to put up with this guy's dad, right? Boy, was I wrong.
Aside from being a fantastic ball player, Lonzo has the added advantage of having a dad who is a marketing master. One of the most important things for a collegiate athlete getting ready for the pros is creating a buzz; getting his name out there to the public and to the teams. And LaVar knocked it out of the park for him.
From his claims of being able to beat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one game of basketball, to his statements about his son Lonzo being better than Steph, Lebron, and Westbrook, LaVar has catapulted he and his son into the spotlight. Even if you don't follow college hoops (like me), you know damn well who Lonzo and LaVar Ball are.
Before the draft lottery to determine the draft order for the NBA, LaVar guaranteed his son would be a Laker. He didn't know when the Lakers would pick. But he knew he would be a Laker. Lonzo decided to only workout for the Lakers. For months, all we heard from LaVar was that his son Lonzo would be a Laker. And last week it happened. Lonzo was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. And LaVar had a Laker-colored hat ready and waiting. Lonzo took the stage in Laker-colored shoes that he had waiting on hand. The foresight of the Ball men had come true.
Then there's the shoes. Oh, the shoes.
After not reaching a figure desired by the Ball men for a sponsorship and shoe deal with Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas, they created their own brand: Big Baller Brand. They unveiled a sexy new sneaker with a hefty price: $495. When I read this, I couldn't help but wonder why they would dare price a shoe that expensive; especially for a guy who hasn't even stepped foot on the NBA hardwood. But then I thought "Why the hell not?".
LaVar and Big Baller were crushed on social media and in the press. Even pro athletes called him crazy. But for every person calling him crazy, there was a person typing in a credit card number. And while LaVar hasn't divulged an exact number, you have to assume the shoes are moving or new products wouldn't keep coming out (have you seen those Z02 Sho'Time shoes? Man, they're nice. Too bad I'm not a Lakers fan). And for those that say they're too expensive? Well, LaVar has a simple explanation: "If you can't afford the Z02's, you're NOT a BIG BALLER!"
And while I may not be big ballin' enough to afford a pair (although those hats are very tempting), you can't hate on a man who's personally-made product is bringing in the dough.
LaVar is brash. Outspoken. In-you-face. But, he's also a self-made business man. He's a marketing genius. He's the owner of his own clothing line. And he's got some talented sons.
People (myself included) have been saying LaVar is crazy since March; and all he's done is make his brand more popular while the paychecks flow in. And I, for one, have to respect that.
Time will tell how Lonzo fares in the NBA. But there's no doubt that he and his father have fared exceptionally for the last several months. Somehow, a man who's name was virtually unknown to those outside of California prior to this year, has turned his name into a business. The Big Baller Brand. And he has also helped his son become the most talked-about NBA prospect to enter the league since LeBron James.
Call me wrong. Call me crazy. I just call it how I see it. #NailedIt
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
MJ VS. LJ
The NBA Finals have come and gone. We've all had a moment to let it sink in. What is there to say? That Golden State Warriors squad is something special. Twice now in the last three years we've witnessed GS take down the Cavs and what many people consider to be the GOAT of the NBA.
The GOAT, huh? 3-5 in the finals. Now that's a statement. Making 7 straight finals appearances is amazing, but losing 4 of those seven is also amazing. But he played against 4 hall of famers!! ... 4 hall of famers??? Let's just slow down with that shit.
I'll give you KD and Steph, but Draymond? Dude has played in two all-star games, been on the all-defensive team twice, and never been on a 1st-team all NBA. That's a hall of famer? Not in my eyes. And Klay? A three-time all-star and two-time 3rd team all NBA member. Yeah, that's a Hall of Famer. Right. Lebron's sidekicks, Kryie and Love have similar credentials. So if GS has 4 HOFs, then the Cavs have 3. No excuses.
But wait. Lebron has played against so many Hall of Famers in the finals. MJ only played against a few! Okay, Lebron has squared off with KD twice, Steph three times, Duncan three times, and Dirk once. MJ went head-to-head with Magic, Drexler, Barkley, Payton, Malone twice, and Stockton twice. But let's also look at the playoff opponents.
Lebron has taken down people like Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Chauncy Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Andre Igoudala, Elton Brand, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, Carmelo, Monta Ellis, Ben Gordon, Joe Johnson, Paul George, Paul Milsap, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, Paul Pierce, and Isaiah Thomas. Not a bad list at all. But Jordan took down the best of his era. Including: Ewing, John Starks, Isiah Thomas, Mark Price, Dominique Wilkins, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Penny Hardaway, Shaq, Ben Wallace, Mutombo, Sam Cassell, and Reggie Miller, to name a few.
Oh, but Jordan lost in the first round! Lebron never did that. Yeah, well, MJ never lost in the finals; and he damn sure never got swept. But what about the stats? Post-season records: Most points in a game: Jordan. Most made field goals in a game: Jordan. Most consecutive field goals in a row: Jordan. Most points/field goals made in a 5-game series: Jordan. Field goals made in a 6-game series: Jordan. Highest points per game average in post-season career: Jordan. Most 50 point post-season games: Jordan. 40 point games: Jordan. 30 point games: Jordan. Only player to score 15 + in every post-season game: Jordan. Consecutive 50 point games: Jordan. Most consecutive 10 point and 20 point games: Jordan. And the list goes on and on... Now for James: Most turnovers in post-season history, and most career points in the post-season (he's about 200 points ahead of Jordan with about 40 more games played). Lebron did just pass MJ for 3rd on the all-time finals scoring record; though he has also played in 45 games, while Jordan only played in 35. Let's not forget that MJ never went to a game 7 in the finals, Lebron has twice.
What about the teammates? But Jordan had Pippen! And Rodman! True. And James had Wade. And Bosh. And Kryie. And Love. You can easily argue that Lebron played with more hall-of-famers than Jordan did (let's not forget LJ's time playing with Shaq -- though they didn't make the finals). Pippen never led a team to the finals, neither did Rodman. Wade has. Wade is likely the most talented teammate that Jordan or James ever had.
Some people say it's about more than just the rings. And I agree. But the ultimate benchmark of greatness is determined by the post-season. Let's compare Tom Brady. The majority of football fans say Brady is the GOAT at quarterback in the NFL. But Brady has arguably only been the best quarterback in the league twice his whole career. Statistically, he's played second-fiddle to guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisburger, and Aaron Rodgers throughout his career. Brady has played since 2000 and has won two MVP awards. Since then, 7 other QB's have won the MVP, including Rodgers winning 2 and Manning winning 5. So why is he considered the GOAT? 5 rings. Rings matter. Winning matters. Championships conquer all.
You may wonder why I haven't mentioned Kobe. Well, the majority of GOAT talk include MJ and LJ. Although, if you ask me, James is third on the all-time list behind the two names I just mentioned.
The title of GOAT is subjective. It's an opinion. Everyone has one. But those that think Lebron is the GOAT need to wake up and join team Jordan.
Call me wrong. Call me crazy. I just call it how I see it. #NailedIt
The GOAT, huh? 3-5 in the finals. Now that's a statement. Making 7 straight finals appearances is amazing, but losing 4 of those seven is also amazing. But he played against 4 hall of famers!! ... 4 hall of famers??? Let's just slow down with that shit.
I'll give you KD and Steph, but Draymond? Dude has played in two all-star games, been on the all-defensive team twice, and never been on a 1st-team all NBA. That's a hall of famer? Not in my eyes. And Klay? A three-time all-star and two-time 3rd team all NBA member. Yeah, that's a Hall of Famer. Right. Lebron's sidekicks, Kryie and Love have similar credentials. So if GS has 4 HOFs, then the Cavs have 3. No excuses.
But wait. Lebron has played against so many Hall of Famers in the finals. MJ only played against a few! Okay, Lebron has squared off with KD twice, Steph three times, Duncan three times, and Dirk once. MJ went head-to-head with Magic, Drexler, Barkley, Payton, Malone twice, and Stockton twice. But let's also look at the playoff opponents.
Lebron has taken down people like Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Chauncy Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Andre Igoudala, Elton Brand, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, Carmelo, Monta Ellis, Ben Gordon, Joe Johnson, Paul George, Paul Milsap, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, Paul Pierce, and Isaiah Thomas. Not a bad list at all. But Jordan took down the best of his era. Including: Ewing, John Starks, Isiah Thomas, Mark Price, Dominique Wilkins, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Penny Hardaway, Shaq, Ben Wallace, Mutombo, Sam Cassell, and Reggie Miller, to name a few.
Oh, but Jordan lost in the first round! Lebron never did that. Yeah, well, MJ never lost in the finals; and he damn sure never got swept. But what about the stats? Post-season records: Most points in a game: Jordan. Most made field goals in a game: Jordan. Most consecutive field goals in a row: Jordan. Most points/field goals made in a 5-game series: Jordan. Field goals made in a 6-game series: Jordan. Highest points per game average in post-season career: Jordan. Most 50 point post-season games: Jordan. 40 point games: Jordan. 30 point games: Jordan. Only player to score 15 + in every post-season game: Jordan. Consecutive 50 point games: Jordan. Most consecutive 10 point and 20 point games: Jordan. And the list goes on and on... Now for James: Most turnovers in post-season history, and most career points in the post-season (he's about 200 points ahead of Jordan with about 40 more games played). Lebron did just pass MJ for 3rd on the all-time finals scoring record; though he has also played in 45 games, while Jordan only played in 35. Let's not forget that MJ never went to a game 7 in the finals, Lebron has twice.
What about the teammates? But Jordan had Pippen! And Rodman! True. And James had Wade. And Bosh. And Kryie. And Love. You can easily argue that Lebron played with more hall-of-famers than Jordan did (let's not forget LJ's time playing with Shaq -- though they didn't make the finals). Pippen never led a team to the finals, neither did Rodman. Wade has. Wade is likely the most talented teammate that Jordan or James ever had.
Some people say it's about more than just the rings. And I agree. But the ultimate benchmark of greatness is determined by the post-season. Let's compare Tom Brady. The majority of football fans say Brady is the GOAT at quarterback in the NFL. But Brady has arguably only been the best quarterback in the league twice his whole career. Statistically, he's played second-fiddle to guys like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisburger, and Aaron Rodgers throughout his career. Brady has played since 2000 and has won two MVP awards. Since then, 7 other QB's have won the MVP, including Rodgers winning 2 and Manning winning 5. So why is he considered the GOAT? 5 rings. Rings matter. Winning matters. Championships conquer all.
You may wonder why I haven't mentioned Kobe. Well, the majority of GOAT talk include MJ and LJ. Although, if you ask me, James is third on the all-time list behind the two names I just mentioned.
The title of GOAT is subjective. It's an opinion. Everyone has one. But those that think Lebron is the GOAT need to wake up and join team Jordan.
Call me wrong. Call me crazy. I just call it how I see it. #NailedIt
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