LaMelo Ball Net Worth

LaMelo Ball’s career path to becoming an American professional basketball player was far from typical, to say the least. He attended Chino Hills high school, where he played basketball and football, but ultimately, it was basketball that he would pursue. 

At 16 years old, he became the youngest player to sign a professional basketball contract through LaVar Ball’s Junior Basketball Association. LaMelo Ball signed to play pro in Lithuania just before his junior year in Chino Hills, California. He then briefly returned for senior year prep school at Spire Academy in Ohio before playing for the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian NBL. He also won rookie of the year. 

Even before all of these early experiences in his high school years, however, he was already exposed to the sport and, in fact, had the privilege of having access to resources and opportunities that would help develop his superior athleticism. 

For one, his father, LaVar Ball, was the founder of the former Junior Basketball Association. He is also the CEO and co-founder of the Big Baller brand’s sports apparel. From a young age, LaVar coached LaMelo and his older brothers in the sport. 

Their father’s coaching and career strategy for his sons clearly worked, seeing how all three of them now professionally play NBA basketball.

Aside from LaMelo Ball, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets, LaVar’s two sons in the NBA are equally familiar names: Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls and LiAngelo Ball of the Greensboro Swarm.

LaMelo Ball Net Worth?

At 20 years old, LaMelo Ball’s net worth is estimated at $20 million already. This can only be expected to go higher in the coming years, thanks mostly to the four-year contract he signed with his team.

LaMelo Ball’s contract with the Hornets guarantees him $8,623,920 in 2022 alone. In the following year, this is anticipated to go up to $10,900,000 and will finally cap at $14,300,000 in his last contract year.

Add to that the endorsement deals he has, plus the early investments he’s made in his young, prosperous adult life, and we can only expect LaMelo’s net worth to go nowhere else but up.

Endorsements

Apart from his professional basketball career, LaMelo Ball also earns as an endorser for Puma. The young rookie actually signed a massive endorsement deal with the sports apparel company in 2020, even before the NBA Draft. 

How massive is it exactly? LaMelo is pretty much set for life with his 10-year Puma contract worth $100 million. Not only that, but the company has also given him unfettered access to their private jet.

Investments

Between this and his NBA salary, you think he’s probably spending away, as most big young earners typically do. As it’s always been with LaMelo, however, nothing’s really ever just typical.

At 20 years old, LaMelo Ball had already moved into his own condo under a lease agreement with former New England Patriots player Cam Newton. He’s also reportedly bought himself several luxury cars, including the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus.

Beyond these properties, however, what really stands out are LaMelo Ball’s investment choices. In 2020, LaMelo Ball made headlines across continents when he and his manager Jermaine Jackson reportedly purchased Illara Hawks, the same NBL team he played for earlier in Australia. 

Later that year, he was also found to have bought a racehorse, which he also named LaMelo. More recently, he was named as one of the seed investors for the upcoming sports streaming app, “Buzzer,” along with sports giant and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

And in the spirit of paying it forward, LaMelo is also currently developing his own high school basketball program. His “1 of 1 Prep Academy” aims to promote sports and provide more opportunities for student-athletes in Charlotte.

Basketball Career

How did LaMelo get so successful this young, this fast? Skills and opportunities had to do more with it than luck, really. 

LaMelo got a good start on his professional career playing for the BC Vytautas in Lithuania, along with LiAngelo, at age 17. The Ball brothers didn’t last too long in the Eastern European league, though, having been pulled out almost immediately by their father after only three months, reportedly because of frustrations concerning LaMelo’s playing time. 

The younger Ball brother, unfortunately, came to be at the receiving end of the backlash from the pullout. Whereas he was the darling when he came in, he was dubbed as “lazy and arrogant” by the time he left.

Despite the sour ending of that experience, however, the young Charlotte Hornets point guard considers that time in Lithuania as a true learning experience. 

His next step to the NBA was in Australia. He played only twelve games, but his performance in those games shone a bright light on him and his statistics, leading him to become among the top picks for the 2021 NBA Draft.

Finally, at 20 years old, and despite having skipped college basketball altogether, LaMelo Ball officially started his NBA career upon becoming the third draft pick for the 2021 NBA Season. Today, he plays point guard for the Charlotte Hornets.

Fun Facts

Did you know that LaMelo is also a star in his own reality show? Ball in the Family features life behind the scenes for the Ball family, featuring LaMelo, his brothers, his dad LaVar Ball, and his mom, Tina Ball. Reportedly, the Ball family was offered millions of dollars to get on board. The show aired in August 2017, garnering a whopping 26 million viewers at its premiere.

With this reality show money, it is said that the family was able to afford The Ball Estate, their family’s $2.5 million exclusive pad. The show continues to run on Facebook Watch and is currently in its sixth season, with a total of 116 episodes under its belt so far.

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