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Lonzo Ball wants to “lead his career” with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports

Just a few months ago, the Ball brother trio of Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball, all signed with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports for management and representation. While it could be speculated whether the trio would eventually sign with PUMA Hoops due to Jay Z’s title as Creative Director for the sportswear brand, Lonzo, the eldest, has decided to choose a different path with the announcement he will ultimately sign with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports per ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Lonzo Ball is signing with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, per @malika_andrews

"I wanted to lead my career… It was the right time to make that call." pic.twitter.com/eNdAaAoDgq

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 14, 2020

“I wanted to lead my career,” Ball stated. “Picking my own representation — just solely as my decision — was step one in that process. For me, it was an easy call, and it was the right time to make that call.” Ball has had several different representatives since his professional career began in 2017. He previously was represented by family friend Harrison Gaines, before moving on to CAA, Creative Artists Agency, followed by Roc Nation Sports.

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Expectations for Ball were certainly high being the #2 overall pick for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. They were prompted even higher thanks to his father, Lavar Ball, stating Lonzo was “better than Steph Curry” and deciding to not take any endorsement or sponsorship meetings and instead wearing his family’s ‘Big Baller Brand’ sneakers.

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Hopefully the 2020 – 2021 NBA season will be Ball’s best as he has recently begun to workout in preparation for it and has his eyes set on not just the playoffs, but, an award his teammate Brandon Ingram collected this year. “Once we get in the playoffs, we take it one game at a time,” Ball said. “For myself, I think Most Improved Player is definitely something I can get next year.”

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The post Lonzo Ball Signs with Klutch Sports, leaving Jay Z’s Roc Nation appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Brook Lopez and DeMarcus Cousins. Photo Credit: Sideline Today

Reggie Evans checked in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on the Scoop B Radio Podcast and talked about EVERYTHING! Press Play below to Listen! 

Reggie Evans has the duality of being both likable and honest. A thirteen year NBA veteran, Evans spent 13 seasons in the league with seven different teams and homeboy was a rebounding behemoth.

He’s also one of the most quotable. Earlier in his career when Evans was a member of the Seattle Sonics and missed taking a urine test, he laughed off the suspicion of any foul play by telling reporters, “I’m just cleaner than clean. I’m Cleaner than Pine’-Sol.”

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Reggie Evans #30 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Sacramento Kings at Barclays Center on January 5, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Nets defeated the Kings 113-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Where they do that at Reggie? Where on Earth did you get such a phrase?

“In the neighborhood,” Reggie Evans told me last week on the Scoop B Radio podcast.

“Man we got all kind of little phrases we be saying. You know, you got my mom who jokes a lot and clowns a lot. One thing about us we are some down south people, we’re some country people. So when you really get down into the roots of how deep the country goes and growing up on the dirt roads.”

Added Evans:

“You’ll be having so many uncles and cousins that’ll be talking. They say the most slickest things that you’ll be crying and laughing. You’re hearing your grand daddy saying so much stuff that it comes natural. You just have to be around us and we say some off the wall stuff and it gets to be so funny but it is also catchy.”

A 6’8 power forward forward, Evans went undrafted in 2002. The Pensacola, Florida native attended Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before transferring to the University of Iowa where he led the nation in free throws attempted, free throws made and double-doubles. Evans also led the Big Ten Conference in rebounding in 2001 and 2002 and was named Big Ten Tournament MVP in 2001, second-team All-Big Ten in 2002, and Honorable Mention All-American in 2001.

I first covered Reggie Evans during the 2012-13 season, while I was a staff writer for BrooklynFans.com.

That season was special because it was the Brooklyn Nets’ inaugural season in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Evans stood out to me because he was passionate about defense and grabbing rebound and he was quick too! He also seemed to influence Brook Lopez.  “To be honest with you when I got to Brooklyn; you can even ask Brook this, but I told him: ‘you are going to make the All Star [team]this year,’” he said.

Lopez would be named an NBA All Star during the 2012-13 season. He also participated in the Shooting Stars Challenge. “I told him: ‘your toughest opponent is going to be me in practice,’” said Evans. “Everything worked out in his favor,” said Evans. “Brook is solid. Brook to me he isn’t soft.”

Brook Lopez lacing up his sneakers. Photo Credit: NBA.com

Lopez was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason. He joins a young roster that includes 2017 top draft pick Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr.

Evans was traded to the Sacramento Kings during the 2014-15 NBA season. While there, he backed up all star forward, DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins’ game is special.

A 6’10 forward, Cousins can create his own shot, push the ball on the fast break, out-rebound centers and dish the no-look pass better than your favorite point guard.  

Cousins, now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, has played well the first two games of the 2017-18 season.

While on Scoop B Radio, Evans weighed in on the difference between Lopez and Cousins in practice. “Brook was tougher,” said Evans. “You know what is so crazy? Brook was tougher, but you’re talking about practice.”

Not a game, not a game! Somebody get Allen Iverson on line one.

MIAMI, FL – MARCH 15: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Miami Heat on March 15, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

“DeMarcus, when those lights came on, that popcorn came on,” said Evans. “You know you would have gotten this 30 something and 15 rebounds guaranteed with DeMarcus. You can stop Demarcus in practices and stuff, but in game time [situations] you aren’t stopping him. I have to pick Brook as the tougher guard in practice than in game time. You aren’t going to stop Demarcus period.”

Aside from giving expert analysis of the game, Evans is still attached to the game. He played in Ice Cube’s Big 3 league over the summer and he says he’s going to play in it next year, also. Community is also important to him. He still resides in his hometown, Pensacola, Florida and he says he’s interested in real estate and mentoring youth. A father himself, his kids are playing sports, so he decided to leave his imprint through sports. “I had to start a whole program,” he said.  

“To put a lot of structure and discipline in the game and bring  a lot of love in for the game. You know it is a football state so I got all that rolling.”

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The post Reggie Evans Says Brook Lopez Was ‘Tougher’ Than DeMarcus Cousins In Practice appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.