Is LaVar Ball a Marketing Genius?
Is LaVar Ball a Marketing Genius?
LaVar Ball is annoying. He is obnoxious. He is your typical narcissist who wants attention from the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But should we be giving him more credit for his marketing abilities?
LaVar Ball is annoying. He is obnoxious. He is your typical narcissist who wants attention from the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But should we be giving him more credit for his marketing abilities?
If you have ever played pickup basketball, there is always that one guy who, although he seems to have no discernible talent, just loves to talk trash.
They make you furious, but as long as you ignore them, it’s fine. However, if you pay attention to the trash talker, they never stop.
LaVar Ball perfectly fits this description.
LaVar is annoying. He is obnoxious. He is your typical narcissist who wants attention from the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At least that is how he portrays himself to the public. However, one thing you have to give LaVar Ball credit for is his marketing and self-promotional skills. I know it’s difficult to give him any praise at all. He is just so relentlessly insufferable.
But think about it for a second.
First, let’s start with name recognition. If you say the name “LaVar Ball” to the average sports fan, it is very likely that the person knows the name. If you don’t know LaVar, then you probably don’t follow sports.
Think about how insane that is. LaVar Ball is the father of a rookie guard (Lonzo Ball) in the NBA.
The father.
He does not play in the NBA. He is not a former player. In fact, he is not even good at basketball.
How many fathers of professional athletes can you name off the top of your head?
I would assume not many. Unless they were former players, there is no reason to know the parents of professional athletes. They are irrelevant.
Rather, they were irrelevant.
LaVar Ball, remarkably, has made himself into a well-known “personality” around the world. He has been interviewed by multiple media outlets, from CNN to ESPN "First Take," and he has even had a Twitter war with Donald Trump.
In addition to his media stardom, LaVar also created the "Big Baller Brand." He isn’t just talking anymore; he is selling.
He sells sneakers. He sells hats. He sells t-shirts.
He sells clothes for men. He sells clothes for women. He sells clothes for kids.
He even has his own Kardashian-like reality television show called "Ball in the Family," which follows the latest drama in the Ball household (it is in its second season!).
It is rather remarkable how LaVar has capitalized on his sons’ basketball talents to create a family company.
Now keep in mind: the Big Baller Brand recently received an F from the Better Business Bureau due to customer complaints and issues with ordering products, according to a Sports Illustrated article.
SNL even performed a skit making fun of LaVar Ball and the Big Baller Brand.
Maybe LaVar needs some help with the execution of the business. However, he clearly has ambitious ideas, and you have to give him credit for his creativity.
To show how stark the difference between LaVar and the majority of other parents in the world is, Kyrie Irving’s father declined multiple interviews from different networks because he did not want to take the spotlight away from his son.
Meanwhile, LaVar is stating that his son is better than Steph Curry, and he is telling the media that Luke Walton is a terrible coach.
Most recently, LaVar told Lithuanian basketball journalist Dontas Urbonas that after Lonzo Ball’s contract ends in 2020, Lonzo will sign with any team that signs the two other sons.
"Lonzo will be on his 3rd year and I want [to] let every NBA team know, that Lonzo is not going to re-sign with the Lakers, but will go to any team, that will take all of my boys,” LaVar said. "That's my plan."
How insane is that statement? In just his son’s rookie season, LaVar is already threatening the Lakers organization that Lonzo will leave if they don’t sign his two other sons in a couple of years. This is the same person who told the rest of the NBA before the draft that Lonzo will only sign with the Lakers.
Although all of Lavar’s antics are absurd and irritating, he does deserve some credit. He has taken advantage of an opportunity, making his family into the Kardashian’s of the NBA.
“A brand is one of the biggest things you can have,” LaVar said in a USA Today article.
So far, he has made that brand.
In the last couple of months, LaVar announced that he wants to create a league called the "Junior Basketball Association" for high school graduates who can’t enter the NBA draft yet. Instead of going to college, the players would play in this league and get paid. In addition, all of the players would wear Big Baller Brand apparel.
It is a brilliant idea. LaVar noticed a weakness in the market and is attempting to take advantage of it. There are great players who are not old enough to play in the NBA and are not getting paid in college. Therefore, he is attempting to create a league to attract these players. Not only that, but he is going to receive free advertisement to further his brand in the process.
Genius!
I know. I know. It’s hard to praise LaVar at all. He seems like a moron on the surface and an absolute blowhard. But when you think about the attention he has received, it’s impressive.
Although LaVar has been a pain to listen to for the last year, we should not solely be blaming him for his antics and the constant hysteria. Rather, we should be blaming our culture. I know this sounds cliché, but it is true.
People want this type of behavior. This type of behavior sells. People want to read and hear about drama (why do you think I am writing this article?).
People are naturally interested in polarizing and controversial figures such as LaVar Ball. People are naturally interested in why people like LaVar Ball act the way they do.
LaVar is simply capitalizing on our culture’s desires.
In a world of social media and self-promotion, people are constantly talking about themselves. If you want LaVar Ball to be quiet, stop paying attention to him. Stop watching his ridiculous show.
It’s simple reinforcement. Every time LaVar says something outlandish, the media reacts, which reinforces the annoying behavior. Ball wants the attention and the spotlight. How do you stop his behavior? You get rid of the reward or the positive reinforcement. If nobody paid attention to LaVar’s antics, he would eventually stop his nonsense (Don’t think I don’t see the irony of this statement as I am writing a piece about LaVar).
But people like drama, controversy, and gossip. That is what sells nowadays, and people cannot get enough of it.
There are many ways to explain LaVar’s obnoxious behavior. It could be that LaVar is acting this way because he is naturally an annoying, opinionated person. This is probably partly true. However, I also think he knows what sells and what attracts attention. When the camera is on, he is on.
Am I giving LaVar too much credit?
Maybe.
He clearly has big and creative ideas. Whether he can capitalize on those ideas and execute them is a different story. To call him a marketing genius would be a stretch. However, I wouldn’t underestimate LaVar’s awareness of the marketplace either.
The Kardashian’s are still the most absurd family in the U.S. Hands down. They win, and they will forever hold that precious title. And it is not even close. There will probably never be a family so famous for doing nothing.
In today’s society, there are, remarkably, many people who follow the lives of Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kylie on a daily basis. They cannot get enough of them.
But the Ball family is coming.
Big Baller Brand.
Sounds about right.
If you have ever played pickup basketball, there is always that one guy who, although he seems to have no discernible talent, just loves to talk trash.
They make you furious, but as long as you ignore them, it’s fine. However, if you pay attention to the trash talker, they never stop.
LaVar Ball perfectly fits this description.
LaVar is annoying. He is obnoxious. He is your typical narcissist who wants attention from the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At least that is how he portrays himself to the public. However, one thing you have to give LaVar Ball credit for is his marketing and self-promotional skills. I know it’s difficult to give him any praise at all. He is just so relentlessly insufferable.
But think about it for a second.
First, let’s start with name recognition. If you say the name “LaVar Ball” to the average sports fan, it is very likely that the person knows the name. If you don’t know LaVar, then you probably don’t follow sports.
Think about how insane that is. LaVar Ball is the father of a rookie guard (Lonzo Ball) in the NBA.
The father.
He does not play in the NBA. He is not a former player. In fact, he is not even good at basketball.
How many fathers of professional athletes can you name off the top of your head?
I would assume not many. Unless they were former players, there is no reason to know the parents of professional athletes. They are irrelevant.
Rather, they were irrelevant.
LaVar Ball, remarkably, has made himself into a well-known “personality” around the world. He has been interviewed by multiple media outlets, from CNN to ESPN "First Take," and he has even had a Twitter war with Donald Trump.
In addition to his media stardom, LaVar also created the "Big Baller Brand." He isn’t just talking anymore; he is selling.
He sells sneakers. He sells hats. He sells t-shirts.
He sells clothes for men. He sells clothes for women. He sells clothes for kids.
He even has his own Kardashian-like reality television show called "Ball in the Family," which follows the latest drama in the Ball household (it is in its second season!).
It is rather remarkable how LaVar has capitalized on his sons’ basketball talents to create a family company.
Now keep in mind: the Big Baller Brand recently received an F from the Better Business Bureau due to customer complaints and issues with ordering products, according to a Sports Illustrated article.
SNL even performed a skit making fun of LaVar Ball and the Big Baller Brand.
Maybe LaVar needs some help with the execution of the business. However, he clearly has ambitious ideas, and you have to give him credit for his creativity.
To show how stark the difference between LaVar and the majority of other parents in the world is, Kyrie Irving’s father declined multiple interviews from different networks because he did not want to take the spotlight away from his son.
Meanwhile, LaVar is stating that his son is better than Steph Curry, and he is telling the media that Luke Walton is a terrible coach.
Most recently, LaVar told Lithuanian basketball journalist Dontas Urbonas that after Lonzo Ball’s contract ends in 2020, Lonzo will sign with any team that signs the two other sons.
"Lonzo will be on his 3rd year and I want [to] let every NBA team know, that Lonzo is not going to re-sign with the Lakers, but will go to any team, that will take all of my boys,” LaVar said. "That's my plan."
How insane is that statement? In just his son’s rookie season, LaVar is already threatening the Lakers organization that Lonzo will leave if they don’t sign his two other sons in a couple of years. This is the same person who told the rest of the NBA before the draft that Lonzo will only sign with the Lakers.
Although all of Lavar’s antics are absurd and irritating, he does deserve some credit. He has taken advantage of an opportunity, making his family into the Kardashian’s of the NBA.
“A brand is one of the biggest things you can have,” LaVar said in a USA Today article.
So far, he has made that brand.
In the last couple of months, LaVar announced that he wants to create a league called the "Junior Basketball Association" for high school graduates who can’t enter the NBA draft yet. Instead of going to college, the players would play in this league and get paid. In addition, all of the players would wear Big Baller Brand apparel.
It is a brilliant idea. LaVar noticed a weakness in the market and is attempting to take advantage of it. There are great players who are not old enough to play in the NBA and are not getting paid in college. Therefore, he is attempting to create a league to attract these players. Not only that, but he is going to receive free advertisement to further his brand in the process.
Genius!
I know. I know. It’s hard to praise LaVar at all. He seems like a moron on the surface and an absolute blowhard. But when you think about the attention he has received, it’s impressive.
Although LaVar has been a pain to listen to for the last year, we should not solely be blaming him for his antics and the constant hysteria. Rather, we should be blaming our culture. I know this sounds cliché, but it is true.
People want this type of behavior. This type of behavior sells. People want to read and hear about drama (why do you think I am writing this article?).
People are naturally interested in polarizing and controversial figures such as LaVar Ball. People are naturally interested in why people like LaVar Ball act the way they do.
LaVar is simply capitalizing on our culture’s desires.
In a world of social media and self-promotion, people are constantly talking about themselves. If you want LaVar Ball to be quiet, stop paying attention to him. Stop watching his ridiculous show.
It’s simple reinforcement. Every time LaVar says something outlandish, the media reacts, which reinforces the annoying behavior. Ball wants the attention and the spotlight. How do you stop his behavior? You get rid of the reward or the positive reinforcement. If nobody paid attention to LaVar’s antics, he would eventually stop his nonsense (Don’t think I don’t see the irony of this statement as I am writing a piece about LaVar).
But people like drama, controversy, and gossip. That is what sells nowadays, and people cannot get enough of it.
There are many ways to explain LaVar’s obnoxious behavior. It could be that LaVar is acting this way because he is naturally an annoying, opinionated person. This is probably partly true. However, I also think he knows what sells and what attracts attention. When the camera is on, he is on.
Am I giving LaVar too much credit?
Maybe.
He clearly has big and creative ideas. Whether he can capitalize on those ideas and execute them is a different story. To call him a marketing genius would be a stretch. However, I wouldn’t underestimate LaVar’s awareness of the marketplace either.
The Kardashian’s are still the most absurd family in the U.S. Hands down. They win, and they will forever hold that precious title. And it is not even close. There will probably never be a family so famous for doing nothing.
In today’s society, there are, remarkably, many people who follow the lives of Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kylie on a daily basis. They cannot get enough of them.
But the Ball family is coming.
Big Baller Brand.
Sounds about right.