Kristian Ferrell
LaVar Ball, the father of basketball players Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, founded the Junior Basketball Association (JBA) in 2017. The JBA was an American basketball league that aimed to provide an alternative route for high school and junior college players to turn professional without having to play college basketball. The league existed for only one season in 2018, featuring eight teams from major US cities. While the JBA has not officially folded, no future seasons have been announced. The league faced criticism for failing to honour contracts and pay its players, and it is widely viewed as having been created solely to promote LaVar Ball's sons, disregarding the other players in the competition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the league | Junior Basketball Association (JBA) |
| Founder | LaVar Ball |
| Year founded | 2017 |
| Objective | To be an alternative to the NCAA by allowing high school and junior college players to play professionally without having to compete at the college level for no money |
| Funding | Fully funded by LaVar Ball's sports apparel company, Big Baller Brand |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Player compensation | $3,000 per month, 60% of their jersey sales, and other endorsement deals |
| Player age range | 16-21 |
| Player selection | Handpicked from tryouts |
| Player benefits | Travel, food, and lodging expenses covered |
| Player opportunities | Players who don't make it to the professional level will be able to work for Big Baller Brand |
| Criticism | Failed to honor contracts and pay players; seen as a platform for LaVar Ball's sons, disregarding the livelihoods of other players |
| Notable participants | LiAngelo Ball, LaMelo Ball |
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What You'll Learn
- The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) was founded by Lavar Ball in 2017
- The JBA was intended to be an alternative to the NCAA
- The JBA existed for one season in 2018
- The JBA faced criticism for failing to honour contracts and pay players
- JBA players were left without income or NCAA basketball scholarships after the league ended
The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) was founded by Lavar Ball in 2017
The JBA was fully funded by Lavar Ball's sports apparel company, Big Baller Brand, and players were required to wear the brand's merchandise. Each player was promised $3,000 per month, 60% of their jersey sales, and additional endorsement deals. The league was to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses. However, the JBA faced criticism for failing to honour its contracts and pay its players. It is widely seen as having been created solely as a platform for Lavar Ball's sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, disregarding the futures and livelihoods of the sixty other players in the competition.
During the 2018 season, multiple NBA players commented on the league, including CJ McCollum and Metta World Peace. Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks also attended a JBA game in Las Vegas. However, ticket sales were described as "comically abysmal", with over 90% of seats still available less than three weeks before the season opener. Despite the league not formally folding, no future seasons have been announced.
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The JBA was intended to be an alternative to the NCAA
The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) was an American basketball league founded by LaVar Ball, the CEO of Big Baller Brand and father to basketball players Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball. The JBA was intended to be an alternative to the NCAA, allowing high school and junior college players to become professional basketball players without having to compete at the college level for no money.
LaVar Ball's decision to launch the JBA was influenced by comments from Mark Emmert, the president of the NCAA. Emmert had questioned the place of LiAngelo Ball, who is LaVar's second-oldest son, in collegiate sports following his departure from UCLA after a shoplifting arrest in China. In response, LaVar Ball announced the formation of the JBA on December 20, 2017, with the league being fully funded by his sports apparel company, Big Baller Brand.
The JBA's inaugural season took place in 2018 and featured eight teams representing major American cities. Each team had a nickname, "Ballers," and the league allowed players between the ages of 16 and 21, primarily selected from tryouts. The JBA promised its players a monthly salary of $3,000, 60% of their jersey sales, and other endorsement deals. However, the league faced criticism for failing to honor its contracts and pay its players. The JBA only lasted one season, and with no future seasons announced, it is widely considered a platform created solely for LaVar Ball's sons, disregarding the livelihoods of the other players involved.
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The JBA existed for one season in 2018
The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) was an American basketball league founded by LaVar Ball, the CEO of Big Baller Brand and father to basketball players Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball. The league was announced in December 2017 as an alternative to the NCAA, allowing high school and junior college players to turn professional immediately.
During the 2018 season, multiple NBA players commented on the JBA, including CJ McCollum and Metta World Peace. Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks even attended a JBA game in Las Vegas. However, the league struggled with ticket sales, with USA Today criticising JBA ticket prices as "unreasonably expensive". The New York Post also highlighted the league's struggle to find an audience.
While the JBA has not formally folded, no future seasons have been announced after its inaugural season in 2018. The discontinuation of the league left former JBA players without a job and their brief $3,000 per month income removed their eligibility for NCAA basketball scholarships.
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The JBA faced criticism for failing to honour contracts and pay players
The Junior Basketball Association (JBA), founded by LaVar Ball, was an American basketball league that aimed to be an alternative to the NCAA. It was intended to allow high school and junior college players to turn professional immediately instead of playing college basketball. The JBA existed for only one season in 2018, featuring eight teams from major US cities.
The JBA faced significant criticism for failing to honour its contracts and pay its players. Each player was promised a $3,000 per month, 60% of their jersey sales, and additional endorsement deals. However, the league failed to deliver on these promises, damaging the reputation of the organisation and LaVar Ball himself. The JBA is widely perceived as having been created solely to promote LaVar Ball's sons, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, while disregarding the futures and livelihoods of the other sixty players in the competition.
The failure to honour contracts and pay players had significant consequences for the participants. With the discontinuation of the league, former JBA players were left without employment, and their brief $3,000 per month income disqualified them from NCAA basketball scholarships. This left them in a vulnerable position, with limited options for continuing their basketball careers or pursuing other opportunities.
The JBA's inability to fulfil its financial obligations also raised questions about the source of its finances. While the league was fully funded by LaVar Ball's sports apparel company, Big Baller Brand, and players were required to wear the brand's merchandise, there was a lack of transparency around the league's financial backing. This lack of financial stability likely contributed to the league's demise and the subsequent challenges faced by its players.
The criticism directed at the JBA for its failure to honour contracts and pay players highlights the risks associated with alternative basketball leagues. While the JBA intended to provide opportunities for young players, its shortcomings ultimately harmed the very individuals it sought to support. As a result, the JBA's legacy is one of unfulfilled promises and missed opportunities, with a negative impact on the players who put their trust in the league.
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JBA players were left without income or NCAA basketball scholarships after the league ended
The Junior Basketball Association (JBA) was an American basketball league founded by LaVar Ball, the CEO of Big Baller Brand and father of basketball players Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball. The JBA was intended to be an alternative to the NCAA, allowing high school and junior college players to turn professional immediately instead of playing college basketball.
The JBA existed for only one season in 2018, featuring eight teams representing major US cities. Each team had up to 10 players, and the league allowed players between the ages of 16 and 21. During the 2018 season, each player was promised a monthly salary of $3,000, 60% of their jersey sales, and additional endorsement deals. The league was fully funded by Big Baller Brand, and players were required to wear the brand's merchandise.
However, the JBA faced criticism for failing to honor its contracts and pay its players. It is widely believed that the league was created solely to promote LaVar Ball's sons and disregarded the futures and livelihoods of the other players in the competition. When the league ended, the players were left without their $3,000 monthly income, and their brief professional status made them ineligible for NCAA basketball scholarships.
The JBA has not formally folded, but no future seasons have been announced. The players who participated in the league were left without a clear path to continue their basketball careers, as they were no longer eligible for college basketball scholarships and did not have a stable income from the JBA. This situation highlights the risks that young athletes face when pursuing alternative routes to traditional college athletics.
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Frequently asked questions
The JBA was an American basketball league founded by LaVar Ball, which existed for one season in 2018. It was intended to be an alternative to the NCAA by allowing high school and junior college players to play professionally without having to compete at the college level for no money.
LaVar Ball created the JBA in response to comments made by Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, about his son LiAngelo's departure from UCLA following a shoplifting arrest in China. Ball stated that he would pay players up to $10,000 per month, as well as 60% of their jersey sales and other endorsement deals.
The JBA faced criticism for failing to honor its contracts and pay its players. It is widely seen as having been created solely to promote LaVar Ball's sons, disregarding the futures and livelihoods of the other players in the competition. No future seasons have been announced, and the league is considered defunct.
