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The Ball Family’s Summer League Sneaker Highlights

Last Updated: August 19, 2021
From Big Baller Brand to Nike to Puma, a look back at everything Lonzo, LaMelo, and LiAngelo Ball have shown off in Las Vegas

As the NBA’s latest Summer League session wraps up in Las Vegas, one of the surprise standouts was also one of the most recognizable names on any roster. 

While notable vets looked to make their mark on a path towards a return to the league and lottery picks rose to the occasion as expected, LiAngelo Ball was looking to simply prove his place.

The middle Ball brother spent two months working out at the Charlotte Hornets’ practice facility with brother (and franchise player) LaMelo, and he impressed team execs enough to get a Summer League invite.

After eldest brother Lonzo redefined the excitement of Summer League in 2017 with the Lakers, drawing a record 17,500 fans to the Thomas & Mack Center, there’s been a noted buzz surrounding these sessions. 

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LiAngelo got to soak up that experience firsthand, draining five threes in his debut game in just 16 minutes of play as fans excitedly loaded into the adjacent Cox Pavilion gym. With the tight-knit family all in town to provide support, LiAngelo laced up retro Air Jordan XIIIs in each game, opting for the sturdy support of the model originally worn by the Hornets’ governor during his “Last Dance” season in 1998. 

While LaMelo was unable to play in Summer League before his pro debut thanks to the 2020 edition being canceled due to the pandemic, his eventual Rookie of the Year season warranted a front-row seat for this year’s slate of Vegas games.

He still pulled up to catch most of LiAngelo’s action with the Hornets, debuting his first signature shoe along the way.

L to R: LaMelo, LiAngelo, and Lonzo Ball in Los Angeles, 2019 (Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Four years ago, Lonzo famously unveiled his own signature shoe with the family’s Big Baller Brand. After just a couple of games with the Lakers, he ditched his signature ZO2s while the company worked to improve the performance with a full re-design in time for the start of the season that fall.

The sneaker freedom that followed led to Ball going on a rotation of then-current sneakers from the likes of Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and Under Armour to close out his championship run as Summer League MVP. 

With all three brothers now having made their mark in Las Vegas, let’s take a look back at each of their sneaker highlights from NBA Summer Leagues over the years.

Lonzo Ball

Big Baller Brand ZO2
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Nike Kobe AD
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Adidas Harden Vol. 1 LS 
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Air Jordan 31 Low
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Under Armour Curry 4
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LaMelo Ball

Puma MB.01
Balenciaga Triple S
Louis Vuitton Trainer 
Adidas Yeezy 350 [2017]
Sam Wasson/Getty Images

LiAngelo Ball

Air Jordan XIII
Nick DePaula

Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.

About The Author
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula
Nick DePaula covers the footwear industry and endorsement deals surrounding the sporting landscape, with an emphasis on athlete and executive interviews. The Sacramento, California, native has been based in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, a main hub of sneaker company headquarters. He’ll often argue that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually an underrated movie, largely because it’s the only time his Sacramento Kings have made the NBA Finals.