LaVar Ball: Evil Genius
So recently, LaVar Ball and Lonzo Ball debuted their signature shoe the ZO2's at a price of $495. While that price point is outrageous, (if the reporting is correct) he garnered the equivalent of $50 million dollars worth of publicity and inexplicably became the top story on almost every network. That feat would not have been accomplished had it been priced at a normal rate. Combine the crazy price with the LaVar Ball's larger than life and even more polarizing personality, and it is must see tv (or however other way you consume media).
It is similar to the Floyd Mayweather tactic. Create a fan base that loves you and one that hates you and every one will tune in wanting to hear how their favorite personalities will react.
Getting back to this case though, LaVar could be on to something that could revolutionize the shoe game. He does not share revenue with any of the apparel titans. He (reportedly) is making them to order to so that would be mean he doesn't have to meet a quota or sales goals. He makes what he sells and the margins on this product (I Hope) are huge. Imagine if LeBron had gone this route, then went on to had the career he had... He would have been a billionaire prior to going to Miami.
The last and probably biggest component of this is that Lonzo now has to ball. If he does not and we forget about him next year because he is a run of the mill NBA player, this move will cost Lonzo millions. Who is better to bet on than yourself though, when you control most of the variables.
