LaMelo Ball rocks $1690 Louis Vuitton sneakers before dropping 28 points in return for Hornets
After almost two months out injured, LaMelo Ball returned to the Charlotte Hornets lineup in Friday's 135-99 blowout road defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. Ball was out with an ankle injury he sustained in late November last year, which cost him 20 regular-season games.
Before the matchup, LaMelo Ball arrived at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio wearing a pair of Louis Vuitton sneakers, which, according to buyma.us, cost $1690. It is not the first time the young star guard flexed his kicks pregame.
However, Ball's return didn't help the Hornets avoid another loss this season. Charlotte has lost four in a row and nine of its last 10 games, leaving the team 13th in the East with eight wins and 28 defeats.
Ball spent 27 minutes on the floor and posted 28 points on 5/14 shooting and 3/9 from beyond the arc. He also had three rebounds, five assists, three steals and six turnovers.
"It is always good to play basketball, but not like that. It was cool to get back out there, though," LaMelo Ball said after the game.
LaMelo Ball's shoes tonight: Which Puma sneakers did Hornets superstar wear vs. Spurs?
Unlike most of his fellow NBA superstars, LaMelo Ball doesn't have a signature shoe deal with Nike, New Balance or Jordan Brand. Instead, he is under contract with Puma.
In Friday's game against the Spurs, Ball wore one of his signature shoes, specifically the MB03s.
The deal between Ball and Puma kicked off in 2020 and is worth $100 million, according to reports. Ball joined fellow stars Kyle Kuzma and Michael Porter Jr., who also have a signature shoe deal with the major shoe company.
Charlotte's star guard once explained why he chose to sign with Puma and not other brands.
"I believe the brand is the perfect partner for me because Puma will allow me to just be myself, " LaMelo Ball said in 2020. "I want to be 100 percent authentic, whether this is playing basketball or showing off my personal style.
"I personally chose a different path to achieve my success because that defines who I am. I am someone who likes to be different and consider myself to be one of one. This is the message I want to share in my upcoming projects with Puma."
Puma has already released signature shoes for the young star guard, like the one he wore on Friday, and it is expected to release more in the future.
LaMelo Ball, who has averages of 24.9 ppg, 8.0 apg and 5.3 rpg on 38.5% from beyond the arc, is under contract with the Hornets through the summer of 2029. His new deal with the franchise, worth $205.9 million, will kick off in the 2024-25 season.