With the NBA Finals finally upon us, you hear news about LeBron’s attempt to repeat, Kevin Durant chasing a ring, and LaVar Ball. Wait? LaVar Ball?
Yes, LaVar Ball’s 15 minutes has been extended and there isn’t an end in sight. How did this happen? Ball and his $495 shoes should’ve been gone by now. It was supposed to be a speed bump in our 140 characters or less news cycle but here we are.
Ball has been called out for every perceived mistake he’s made. Reports that he cost his son Lonzo a $10 million contract is a little misleading. If Ball were to drop his demand for a partnership, that money would still be there for Lonzo. It’s a deal that isn’t going away anytime soon and LaVar knows that.
Producing his own shoes and pricing them at the hefty price of $495 has been roundly criticized but even that’s been somewhat blown out of proportion. As most in his situation, everything is a pre-order taking a lot of this risk out of play. With the fall back of a $10 million, Ball’s thinking is “why not take the chance”.
Now, the $220 slides and $60 t-shirts might be going a little too far but, hey, why not test the market.
And those who think LaVar is going to cost his son draft spots are plum crazy. The NBA is the last league who is worrying about a perceived overbearing, loud mouth parent. If Lonzo slips, it will be because of something on the court not his Dad off it.
So what can we learn from Ball? We can learn a lot of good things from him. The idea of wanting a partnership and not a traditional contract is actually a good thing for everyone in all industries. As the next generation gets unfairly criticized for being ‘lazy, self-absorbed millennials’, Ball and his son are a refreshing break. They are dream chasers that have made several missteps. Talk to anyone who owns his or her own company and they will tell you similar tales of missteps. The major difference is, their mistakes didn’t play out on ESPN and other media outlets.
Shows like Shark Tank glorify the process of becoming an entrepreneur. It has spawned the LaVar Balls of the world to have the guts to go out and create their own brand. Yes, that shakes up the establishment but so did companies like Apple and Starbucks. Now the way they do business is the norm.
As a father of a 10 year old, I want him thinking in terms of determining his oln path. Entrepreneurship is one of the major ways to get there. Now, it might not make you a multi-millionaire but it promotes a certain level of freedom to determine your own path.
Whether it’s a lawn mowing service or a lemonade stand, it promotes a creative mindset that all our children could benefit from learning at an early age. It can take them to places we never thought of at the same age. It’s part of being a parent and wanting more for our kids.
I don’t know whether Ball will succeed or not. The odds are stacked against him, as the shoe industry isn’t what it once was. My gut feel is, Lonzo will end up with a contract with one of the major brands at the $10 million mark that’s currently on the table. But long after Ball’s bluster and bravado are gone, we should look back on it more as a teaching moment than a carnival act.
Marcus “Mook” Washington is the host of Making The Cut. Follow Mook on Twitter: @mtcwithmook and IG: MTCWithMook
