From November 2025 to June 2026, Stephen Curry was a sneaker free agent, listening to multiple brands before ultimately inking a 10-year with Chinese sports apparel giant Li-Ning.
Big Baller Brand founder LaVar Ball claimed that Curry missed out on a huge opportunity after the two-time MVP refused to collaborate with him.
LaVar Ball Claims Stephen Curry Made a Huge Mistake by Passing on Big Baller Brand
Curry’s decision to move on from Under Armour and weigh his options elsewhere was one of the biggest stories in the sneaker world. The Golden State Warriors superstar signed with Under Armour in 2013 after four years with Nike, elevating the brand’s sales and popularity.
Following the split, the 12-time NBA All-Star retained his Curry Brand and will bring it to Li-Ning. According to Ball, Curry made a huge mistake by not signing with Big Baller Brand instead.
“Curry, what’s going on is you’re older now. It’s hard to make the Curry Brand go, so you have to go across the waters to the Chinese brand ‘cause you’re too old for the Nikes and the Adidas and for the kids to follow. Nobody’s gonna do that,” Ball said.
“I asked folks, ‘If you really want that Curry shoe to go and people be still moving on them, where do you think he should have went?’ And they said, ‘Big Baller Brand.’ I said, ‘Of course!’ Can you imagine Curry with Big Baller Brand? We’re an American brand. … That thing will go to a whole ‘nother level!”
Ball’s claims about Big Baller Brand being able to push the Curry Brand to another level is certainly questionable. LaVar’s sons, LaMelo Ball and Lonzo Ball, don’t even wear Big Baller Brand. LaMelo is signed to Puma and while Lonzo wore BBB shoes briefly, the Los Angeles Lakers forced him to change shoes when he played for the team. Lonzo’s refusal to wear Big Baller Brand shoes caused tension with LaVar, but they have since reconciled.
In 2019, Lonzo cut ties with the brand publicly after he accused BBB Alan Foster of using “his access to my business and personal finances to enrich himself” after $1.5 million went missing from his personal and business accounts.
BBB’s reputation has also taken a hit over the years. In 2018, the Better Business Bureau gave the brand an F rating, the worst grade it could give.
It certainly seems like LaVar is just trying to make some headlines with this comment. Curry is excited about his new venture with Li-Ning, calling the collaboration “the partnership of a lifetime.”
