Yeah they had been going to UCLA games and scouting him undoubtedly for quite awhile. The thing about the workout if everyone recalls was Magic and them noted he didn't seem in peak condition. Then the trainer he uses at home brought up later he could tell there was something going on because he typically doesn't sweat that much. So they wanted a chance to see the condition he's really in and did great in the 100 degree heat that day, plus got to see his regimen. I know a lot of excuses cynics can rightly say, like the alleged hamstring tweak during 2nd Kentucky game and rolled ankle prior to it. But it's possible both situations were true. Don't see the small window argument much.
I don't need to worry about whether or not D'Angelo was at press conferences. He plays for Brooklyn now... I can appreciate Ball who seems like a great teammate without worrying about Russell anymore. I know comparisons will be natural and hard to avoid, but I'm not sure it's warranted here.
Hah. Couple claps for this one. We still see posters that cant let go of what went from Alex Smith, to Harbaugh and Kap combo on the niners forum. I think its not an issue until you see down the road its a pattern holding it against the new players/regime.
I really do get it. It's still a fresh situation and some of this is going to be natural to compare, but hopefully you keep that stuff to easily quantifiable comparisons. Trying to compare press conference appearances? That's tough and unfair too. We don't know these guys' schedules. Comparing their on-the-court product? Okay I could see that, but we should try not to do it.
I know that Nance and Zubac tweeted something. I'm sure other people sent texts or something, things we don't know for sure.
I equate it to the Lakers are the fire and Lonzo coming in is the gasoline. Explosive combination when it comes to exposure and attention.
Also helps that he's going to LA and a "local" kid. He'd probably be first in that list too if he went elsewhere but probably a different kind of buzz.
$$$$$$ Straight cash homey! Bet you Nike or Addidas would offer $40-50mm for a 5 yr shoe deal after that type of media
I'm sure he got that type of deal before those numbers came out. Big Baller Brand gettin' all of dat.
I think Darren Rovell was reporting 5 yrs $10mm then after the Lakers got the #2 pick it went to $20mm
Rookies are generally low-balled for shoe deals. They sign rookie payscale contracts in the NBA. The sneaker companies try to do that too and make a bunch of money off you before you blow up. Lonzo is going to make his own money and that's pretty damn impressive. Last count (about 2 days after the draft), he'd sold something like 500K in just shoes. That's pretty damn impressive for a kid who hadn't had a pro team for a week, let alone play an NBA game. I've said it all along, but if he pops off and does some things in the pros he's going to make up the money Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour weren't willing to offer pretty damn quickly.
Yes I saw them but think that was about it. Social media and Lakers and all the posers on this team you'd think if there were other tweets of same nature from other teammates they would have popped up. I'm just curious. I liked D'Angelo a lot and too was looking forward to seeing him next to Lonzo.
Everyone laughing at him and Lavar's business model don't understand Guns and Butter. Not trying to get political in here, but Lavar scares Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour. He's laid out the blueprint for others to follow.
Indie shoe companies for the larger stars coming out of college? But Lonzo's situation is pretty unique. His dad's big mouth and crazy like a fox playing the WWE "Heel" personality in the media with all of his outrageous claims about Lonzo and his own schtick brought the notoriety, the Lakers and their world best NBA brand drafting him onto their team with their hype of him being the next Magic Johnson, and tutored by Magic himself, to bring back winning and exciting basketball to the L.A. Lakers ..... and most importantly Lonzo's seeming talent and mental makeup (winner) looks to be able to make that happen by being exactly the type of player Magic wants to do it. The perfect marketing storm. Lightning in a bottle. Other indie shoe startups' mileage may vary quite a bit. Or perhaps they join the Big Baller Brand. Nike, Adidas and the rest it may never be the same. Not unlike when Napster rocked the Record Industry's world with file sharing (and as well the advent of digital on line sales). Everything became harder for making profits with the old business model.
Lavar wanted what Dr Dre and Suge wanted -- a distribution deal, but to own their own masters, per se. I don't see why every player can't do that. Jordan has made a fortune, until you compare it to what Nike has made. About 10 current players have their own signature shoe line (maybe less). What about the other 280 players? They're wearing shoes and getting paid. But none of these guys own their own brand. And Nike wants it to stay that way. For an obvious reason.
