Big Baller Brand CEO Lavar Ball is in town for the Big Baller Brand roadshow and to see his ailing son LaMelo.
The outspoken and controversial patriarch of the much-hyped Ball family has returned to Australia with a new promise: his third son LaMelo Ball is going to go number one in the NBA Draft next season.
This bold prediction or crazy premonition from the one and only Lavar Ball may ring true. LaMelo showed flashes of brilliance early in the NBL season with the Illawarra Hawks, but his breakout game that delivered a triple double followed by another one, has seen his stock skyrocket at the top of the NBA mock drafts.
Lavar is loud and proud, and everybody knows it once he enters the room. On this day though, the reality TV sensation, businessman and father of three was sitting side by side next to his lovely wife Tina at the Big Baller Brand Pop Up Store in the heart of Wollongong.
“Well I can’t help it, but somebody gotta be the best looking brother in here,” said a cheeky Lavar when asked about his gregarious personality.
After breaking the ice, Lavar is all smiles despite a long flight overnight from Los Angeles via Sydney.
We asked him what lies ahead regarding the future of his son LaMelo.
“Well, we gonna deal with this year. We gonna make sure that his foot and everything is good, that’s the main concern. After that we’ll figure out what the next step is but that’s the main thing, he gotta get healthy.”
From all the hype that LaMelo has received, it looks like he is going to be one of top lottery picks. Lavar jumped straight into it.
“Yo it don’t look like it is, he IS going number one, c’mon now man. He won’t be number one for nothing.”
Older brother Lonzo got drafted second overall by the LA Lakers in 2017-2018, but was eventually shipped out to the New Orleans Pelicans this season. Do the brothers talk about this?
“They always been competitive like that, all of them together ever since they been babies.”
He discussed the fortunes and challenges of his Big Baller Brand, the family’s own designer line of clothing, footwear and apparel.
“I’ve had all ups. We keep going this way. We don’t stop. We might pause for a minute for a little disturbance but we still going this way (pointing upwards in unison with his wife Tina ).
Laid out in the Big Baller Band Pop Up Store were tables full of gear, including a wide range of BBB sweatshirts, city t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, caps, lanyards and an exclusive Illawarra Ballers tee. No BBB shoes in sight, but that’s ok.
He is hustling, but Lavar is also using the opportunity in this visit to shoot a new episode of his Facebook Watch reality tv online show “Ball in the Family.” The whole production team is in town as they took recorded snippets of Lavar and Tina’s interaction with the customers, including yours truly.
What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?
“It takes for you to be a big baller, at whatever you do you can be a big baller. If you got discipline, you got determination and dedication how can’t you be a big baller? If you ain’t a big baller, you gonna stay local and you ain’t gonna move nowhere.”
Point taken, Mr. Worldwide.
He ain’t done with his business yet. Lavar is looking to further expand his line.
“We bout to have a lot of things. We gonna have some water, Big Baller Brand water, and some rims and tires. In the next few months the rims and tires it’s gonna be hot! You gotta roll Big Baller style.”
Where do you get all that inspiration?
“My inspiration, it’s just within. I just do as much as I can man. Why? Coz I can. Who gonna stop me? You ever seen a ball stop? It just keeps rolling.”
He has his eyes set on Asia, particularly in China and the Philippines. Watch out for more news from this crazy cat.
He has one more thing to say to Australia. (He just doesn’t stop talking, gotta love it!).
“My message to Australia – welcome to the ‘Gong!!!”
The bigger the balls, the bigger the hype. Just take it from Lavar, the biggest baller brand icon of them all.
Marco Selorio is a serial entrepreneur, basketball writer, Master of Ceremonies, event director and promoter. Follow him on Facebook @marcoandreselorio and on Instagram @marcoselorio
