Lonzo Ball and Brother LaMelo to Sign with Jay Z and Roc Nation

Lonzo Ball and his brother LaMelo made a family decision to put their basketball careers in the hands of Jay Z and his agency Roc Nation.

It was a given that at some point Lonzo Ball was going to join forces with his brother LaMelo. Ultimately they hope it is on the same basketball team, but for now they’ll have to settle on being on the Roc Nation team.

According to LaMelo Ball’s manager Jermaine Jackson, the Ball Brothers are going to sign an agreement to be represented by Roc Nation Sports, the sports’ management arm of Jay Z’s company.

According to ESPN, Jackson had this to say about the brothers’ signing:

"“This was a family decision,” Jackson told ESPN. “This is now an extended family. They put together a beautiful game plan with Jay-Z. The basketball game is about to change. They are going to create something totally new.”"

Lonzo Ball and his younger brother LaMelo have long expressed their wishes to eventually end up on the same team, a wish the New Orleans Pelicans might accomadate if they jump into the top half of the draft lottery.

Lonzo Ball was drafted second by the Lakers and many believe LaMelo will go even higher in the 2020 NBA draft.

LaMelo is one of the favorites to be the first pick and agent Jackson claims he’s getting even stronger, faster and taller while he rides out the pandemic.

"“Right now Melo is focused on the weight room and working on his game training with Lavar. His father is doing a phenomenal job. He already put seven pounds of muscle on him. He’s working out with Lonzo and Gelo trying to get ready for whatever comes next. He’s grown half an inch in the last few months.”"

Lonzo Ball has been low-key during the hiatus, though he has done several interviews and made an appearance on the J.J. Redick Podcast.

It will be interesting to see how this signing affects the dynamic between the brothers, as well as their future shoe deals.

According to Darren Rovell on the Dan Patrick Show, Lonzo Ball already lost out on a potentially lucrative shoe deal because of his father, so it’s likely Roc Nation will be negotiating the next one.

It’s also complicated by the fact that Jay Z is a creative director at Puma, which may pressure LaMelo to go that direction, though Jackson claims everything is still “wide open.”

Lonzo Ball’s new agent will be Raymond Brothers, who will handle LaMelo as well.

Brothers is currently the agent for players Spencer Dinwiddie and Markelle Fultz among others, but Lonzo Ball and possible number one pick LaMelo will be his most high-profile clients.

It seems as though LaVar Ball has finally ceded control over his sons and was smart to put their careers into the hands of a global power like Roc Nation.