LaVar Ball is serious about creating his own basketball league for nationally ranked high school graduates that don't want to play ball in college, just like his sons LiAngelo and LaMelo.
According to TMZ Sports, LaVar's Big Baller Brand has filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to get the rights for the Junior Basketball Association aka "JBA."
The JBA already has a logo- a silhouette of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball dunking- and LaVar is looking to use the league's name, as well as the JBA logo, for use on athletic apparel, uniforms, hats, footwear, etc. Of course, the league will be funded by the Big Baller Brand and LaVar intends to pay the lowest ranked player a salary of $3,000 a month and the best players $10,000 a month. The caveat - all players must agree to wear only Big Baller Brand products, including BBB shoes on the court.
According to a report by ESPN's Darren Rovell, LaVar is seeking 80 players to fill 10 teams that he hopes will play at NBA arenas in Los Angeles, Dallas, Brooklyn and Atlanta.
"Getting these players is going to be easy," Ball told ESPN. "This is giving guys a chance to get a jumpstart on their career, to be seen by pro scouts, and we're going to pay them because someone has to pay these kids."
Instead of following college rules on the court, the Junior Basketball Association will mimic the NBA with four 12 minute quarters and a pro three-point line.
"Those kids who are one and done, they shouldn't be there with the NCAA trying to hold them hostage, not allowing them to keep the jersey they wear while selling replicas of them in stores," Ball said. "So our guy isn't going to go to Florida State for a year. He's going to come to our league."
LaVar reportedly hopes to launch the JBA sometime this Summer.
