Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball hinted that he had started a bidding war between shoe makers after he wore different brands during the Las Vegas Summer League. Before the Lakers’ game against the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth told Ball: "You're wearing the Jordan 31s tonight. Are you trying to start a bidding war here?" to which Ball replied: "Something like that."

The 19-year-old Ball wore his signature Big Baller Brand ZO2 sneakers shoes in the first two Summer League. In his debut, he scored just five points but bounced back in his second game, recording a triple double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

In two games wearing his signature shoes, Ball averaged eight points, eight assists 7.5 rebounds.

Lonzo on fire while wearing different brands

In his third game. Ball wore Kobe Bryant’s signature Nike shoes, and he played like the Black Mamba, recording 36 points, eight boards, 11 assists and five steals with LeBron James watching from the sidelines. James then posted a video on Instagram with Lonzo wearing Nikes.

When he sported James Harden’s Adidas, Ball tallied his second triple double in the Summer League with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. The next game, he wore Stephen Curry’s Under Armour and submitted another solid scoring line with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven dimes as the Lakers advanced to the semifinals.

In the Lakers 109-98 win over the Mavericks, Lonzo played with Jordan Brand, finishing with 14 points, 10 assists and four boards but his outing was cut short by a calf injury. Despite the injury, Ball is hoping that he can play against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Summer League title game. Ball is a strong candidate for MVP honors after averaging 16.4 points, 9.2 assists, and 8.4 rebounds in five games.

Ball open to endorsing other brands if price is right

Lonzo’s father, LaVar, admitted that his son is wearing different shoe brands as invitations to brands that rejected him before he was drafted No. 2 overall pick. LaVar said his son is open to endorsing another brand if the price is right. Earlier, LaVar pegged his asking price at $1 billion for his three children during his negotiations with Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.

LaVar also wanted his son’s brand to be sublicensed under his Big Baller Brand. However, the shoe companies laughed off LaVar’s asking price. After that, LaVar released his son’s line of shoes under the Big Baller Brand worth $495.