The Big Baller Brand ZO2 has been the talk of the sneaker world and basketball world for the entire weekend as people try to wrap their heads around the concept of a basketball sneaker costing $495. Shaq and Stephon Marbury, who both have launched shoe companies that have tried to create lower priced, more affordable sneakers, have called out LaVar and Lonzo Ball for charging that much.
Others have simply laughed at the idea of a near $500 sneaker.
Warriors All-Star Draymond Green offered his thoughts on Big Baller Brand and the ZO2’s on his most recent “Dray Day” podcast for Uninterrupted — where he also called Kelly Olynyk a dirty player. Green explained that while he thinks the idea of going independent is great and wants to see the company succeed, the execution from Big Baller Brand and the pricing of the shoe are destined to fail.
Honestly, I like the concept. I like, hey, why would we go to one of these big brands when we can start our own. Honestly, I think that’s what black people’s been missing out on for years. I like the concept, but I think they’re going about the whole thing wrong. But, great idea, and I’m not saying it won’t be successful — I actually hope it does, I want everybody to be good. But $500 for a basketball shoe? Who we kidding?
There will never be — you know, LeBron dropped his prices from $220 or whatever it was to $160, this is LeBron James we’re talking about. Michael Jordan’s shoes went up to $200 something and they dropped back down. You know, Kobe’s shoes dropped back down, Kyrie’s shoes dropped down, KD’s shoes dropped down, Steph Curry’s shoes dropped down. This kid has never scored a layup in the NBA.
He thinks he’s going to sell a shoe for $500? That’s just absurd. So I think that’s just crazy, and I think they’re setting themselves up for failure with that. Now, when you look at the situation, are they charging that much because they can’t mass produce the shoes and they need to charge that much to cover the cost, maybe. But even if that’s the case, you have to find a different route. You can’t just charge $500 for a shoe.
There’s just a better way to go about it than what they are. Like I said, I think it’s a great idea to do your own thing. I just don’t think they’re going about it the right way, and there’s not enough business smarts, business sense behind what they’re doing. However, I think at the same time — also $220 for a slide? Why are we fooling? To be like, Gucci’s selling this, Gucci’s been out for a long time. Let’s not do that. Let’s not disrespect these brands who’s done all this work to get to where they are. … It’s crazy.
This has been the general sentiment from most observers of what the Balls have done. The idea of going independent is one that is risky, but respectable. However, trying to justify $495 for sneakers and $220 for slides by going after the lifestyle, luxury brand market seems like a short-sighted effort to create buzz (which they’ve done) without thinking about the sustainability of what they’re doing.
That’s what Green gets at in his discussion of the shoe, especially in noting that most every major shoe company has dropped the price of signature shoes in order to be more competitive on the market.
