Chicago Bulls star Lonzo Ball has admitted that his family’s Big Baller Brand sneakers are likely the reason for his knee injury.
In an ESPN profile, Lonzo revealed that the first version of the Big Baller Brand shoes he wore during his rookie season were comparable to “kickball shoes” and caused the serious injuries that sidelined him for 1,009 days. Lonzo, now 27, recounted his rookie experience, noting how he switched to other brands after two games in the 2017 NBA Summer League due to dissatisfaction with Big Baller Brand’s performance.
Despite returning to BBB after it partnered with Skechers as a manufacturer, Lonzo remained dissatisfied but still wore the sneakers throughout his rookie campaign. By January 2018, he suffered his first meniscus injury.
“I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you. I wasn’t really getting hurt like that until I started wearing them,” Lonzo reflected.
Nearly two years ago, Lonzo underwent a “Hail Mary” cartilage replacement surgery to address severe deterioration in his knee. He speculated that years of intense outdoor play during his youth might have also contributed to the damage.
“My uncle used to always tell me, ‘Y’all play too much outside,’ because we were playing super hard in the backyard. That’s on concrete,” Lonzo said. “That was at least 15 years. So I mean, all that, over time, it can’t be good for your knees.”
Despite the challenges, Lonzo remains proud of the dedication that shaped his career.
“I don’t feel like I would be where I’m at if I didn’t do all that stuff,” he said. “All the work that we put in, it could have hurt, but it also made us who we are.”
Lonzo’s father, LaVar Ball, relaunched the Big Baller Brand website in February 2020 after the company briefly shut down for ten months following fraud allegations against co-founder Alan Foster. Lonzo and Foster battled it out in court over the matter.
Thankfully, Lonzo made his return to the court in late November 2024.
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