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10 Athletes Who’ve Ripped Big Baller’s ZO2 Shoes

Written by Jeremy

Even with the NBA and NHL Playoffs going on, the story that’s dominated sports headlines is the new ZO2 shoes.

Released by the Big Baller Brand, the ZO2’s shocked the sporting world with a $495 price tag. This is unprecedented for two reasons:

  1. Lonzo Ball, who’s projected as the number 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, hasn’t even played a game yet.
  2. ZO2’s cost more than double what Michael Jordan and LeBron James’ shoes cost.

Given the rarity of the situation, these sneakers have been trending on social media for days. And LaVar Ball added fuel to the fire by taunting anybody who can’t afford the $495 price tag.

https://twitter.com/Lavarbigballer/status/860278921396314112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Some athletes aren’t impressed with the price tag and are taking aim at the new shoe line. That said, here are 10 of the best responses I’ve seen to the ZO2’s.

1. Shaq Takes Exception to the $495 Price

Hall of Fame center and current TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal was one of the first to comment on the Zo2 shoe.

Given that Shaq’s Reebok shoes sell for between $15 and $25 at Wal-Mart, he wasn’t impressed by the fact that Zo2’s cost over 30 times more than his line.

2. Draymond Green Calls the Price “Absurd”

Amid ripping on Kelly Olynyk for being a “dirty player” and Kristaps Porzingis for claiming he was hacked on social media, Draymond Green also managed to bash the Zo2’s on his Dray Day podcast.

While the Golden State Warriors forward says that he wishes the Ball family the best, he also also thinks that the price is crazy.

“I like the concept,” said Green. “However, I think they’re going about the whole thing wrong. But $500 for a basketball shoe? Who are we kidding?

“There will never be, like — LeBron dropped his prices from $220 or whatever it was to like $160. This is LeBron James we’re talking about. Michael Jordan’s shoes went up to $200-something. They dropped back down.

“This kid has never scored a layup in the NBA. He thinks he’s gonna sell his shoes for $500? That’s just absurd.”

3. Anthony Adams Does Mock ZO2 Commercial

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Anthony Adams went far beyond a simple tweet or media comment to make fun of the ZO2’s.

He made an entire mock commercial, where the ZO2’s transform his unskilled, 310-pound frame into an instant basketball star.

4. Mike Wallace Can’t Stop Laughing

Baltimore Ravens receiver Mike Wallace has some pretty simple responses to the Zo2’s….most of them with crying-laughing emoji’s.

https://twitter.com/Wallace17_daKid/status/860241090712129538

https://twitter.com/Wallace17_daKid/status/860251849919795200

5. Torrey Smith Tells People Not to Waste their Money

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Torrey Smith is another receiver to chime in on the Big Baller Brand shoe.

Not only did he rip LaVar for his baller comment, but Smith also had a response for San Diego Chargers tackle Russell Okung.

https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/860288744414425089

6. Mike Brown Has a Good Laugh over ZO2’s

Following a playoff victory over the Utah Jazz, interim Golden State Warriors head coach Mike Brown was asked if he’d buy the shoes.

After letting out a very loud laugh, Brown offered a simple no.

7. Gilbert Arenas Worries that LaVar is Blowing His Kids’ Opportunities

When Gilbert Arenas becomes the voice of reason, you have a problem…

8. Terrell Suggs Says He’d Never Pay This Much

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs had one of the kinder responses when asked about Big Baller Brand’s shoes, saying that he likes what the Ball family is doing.

However, he told Rolling Out that there’s no chance he’d ever spend $500 on a sneaker.

“I wouldn’t personally pay $500 for any shoe. Not any basketball shoes,” said Suggs. “I have bought Givenchy shoes but as a sneaker? To play basketball in? Nah, I just can’t. But as for fashion shoes, I’m pretty sure their shoes didn’t start out at the cost they are now, so they appreciated in value. But as of right now, no I’ll never pay $500 for a sneaker. I’ll buy the $175 LeBron’s.”

9. Ohio State Receivers Coach Says LaVar Ball Stole His Idea

Zach Smith, the wide receivers coach for Ohio State University, strongly believes that LaVar Ball stole the ZO2 logo and design from him.

Smith created “Zone6,” a special logo and nickname for his receiving crew’s ability to reach the end zone. While Smith isn’t trying to make money off the logo, he feels that Ball used Zone6 as inspiration.

https://twitter.com/CoachZachSmith/status/860327227153633280

https://twitter.com/mattjosephlewis/status/860310585749237760

10. Shannon Sharpe Believes the Price Tag is to Get Attention

Former Denver Broncos tight end and Undisputed analyst Shannon Sharpe debated the ZO2 price with co-host Skip Bayless. And Sharpe believes that the $495 price tag is purely for attention reasons.

“The reason why he came up with $495… he’s like, ‘If I come up with a shoe for $100, or $125, ain’t nobody going to be talking about it.’ They’re talking about the price, not the shoe. But you got people’s attention,” said Sharpe. “Now that you got their attention, how do you keep it with this shoe? Because, like you said, Lonzo hasn’t played a game.”