Stephon Marbury believes that the price tag for Big Baller Band’s ZO2 shoe is “brainless,” but he does support the idea of the Ball family controlling their own brand.
The former Knick was at NYU in Manhattan on Wednesday to give advice to new students beginning their college education, and to promote his Starbury Inc. brand. Marbury’s brand, which relaunched in 2016, sells athletic shoes and apparel at a price that is more affordable within communities such as the one he grew up in when he lived in Coney Island.
Starbury Inc. takes a very different approach to their product sales than some of more expensive athletic apparel brands, such as the Big Baller Brand.
Big Baller is the athletic brand created by the Ball family. The brand is best known for a $495 pair of ZO2s that were created by the eldest Ball brother Lonzo, who will be entering his rookie season in the NBA this season.
The price tag on the ZO2s is something that Marbury believes is unnecessarily ridiculous.
“When I see a sneaker for over $400, for me, that’s kind of brainless because it doesn’t cost that much to make,” Marbury said. “I like the idea of them wanting to own their own brand. I do like that idea, just not for the price tag.”
Marbury has a “problem” with seeing shoes that are being sold for $150, $200 because, in some cases, in can result in violence.
“I feel like once one kid is harmed by being robbed of his sneakers, I think that’s when the conscious mind has to [say] this isn’t something that should happen on Earth,” Marbury said. “People are losing their lives over things that aren’t important. That’s where I have a problem with that, because it could be my son, it could your son, it could be my daughter, it could be somebody else’s brother or sister. For me, that doesn’t resonate with me as a human being.”
The two-time NBA all-star backs up his talk with his Starbury brand. Marbury’s price tag for his shoes ranges from an affordable $14.98 to $49.98.
The former No. 4 overall draft pick of the 1996 draft also said he believes “[Lonzo Ball] not playing one game in the NBA — it’s a little excessive on the price without having any proven track record of doing anything on the court.”
A proven track record is something that the 15-year NBA veteran has compiled. After playing in the NBA, Marbury took his talents to China and joined the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons in 2010. One year later, Marbury would join the Bejiing Ducks where he would end up winning three Chinese Basketball Association titles, including Bejiing’s first in 29 years.
Marbury is now one of the most beloved foreign athletes to play in China. The city of Bejiing has honored him with two statues, a museum, and even a green card.
The love his Bejiing fans have for him was present even while he was speaking 7,000 miles away in NYC. During an open Q&A with the incoming students, freshman ShengKang Zhou could not hold his emotions back when he thanked Marbury for everything he’s done in China.
“Two years ago I was at [LeSports Center] seeing you and your teammates play, that is the closest I [could] get with your team … I just couldn’t believe [it] – five meters. I really want to thank you because the best moments in my high school life was [watching you play].”
But that was as far as Zhou could go before he broke down in tears, earning him applause from the crowd and even a hug from a teary-eyed Marbury.
The emotional interaction between Marbury and Zhou reminded the three-time CBA champion of the “the deep bond in Beijing.”
Though Lonzo Ball has not reached that level of a proven track record, Marbury said he does see a bright future in front of the eldest Ball brother.
“I think Lonzo Ball will be good, because he has a great foundation of how he plays the game,” Marbury said. “He knows how to play, and he has Magic Johnson as one of the people to mentor him. And he’s playing for one of the best franchises in basketball, with one of the best leaders in basketball. So he’s going to learn how to lead.
He’s going to have the opportunity to be able to grow as a player on and off the court, business wise with him being under Magic Johnson’s leadership. So he’s in a really good position.”