Lonzo Ball Suggests Big Baller Brand Shoes May Have Contributed to His Knee Injuries

The Chicago Bulls guard reflects on his injury-plagued career and questions the role of his father's shoe brand in his health struggles.

Lonzo Ball, now healthy and back with the Chicago Bulls, missed over 2.5 NBA seasons due to serious knee injuries, including a meniscus injury sustained in 2018.
Ball revealed in an ESPN interview that he believes his Big Baller Brand (BBB) sneakers, designed by his father LaVar Ball, may have contributed to his injuries, describing them as poorly made and unsuitable for basketball.
During the 2017 Summer League, Ball abandoned the BBB shoes after just two games, opting instead for high-end sneakers from brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, which he credited for better performance.
LaVar Ball disputed his son’s claims, instead blaming modern training methods and other shoe brands for the injuries sustained by both Lonzo and his brother LaMelo, who also faced health issues early in his career.
The controversy highlights the tension between Lonzo Ball’s loyalty to his father’s brand and his pursuit of personal health and professional success, with the guard now favoring established shoe brands like Nike.