Know Your Self-Worth And Own Your Own Thing, Says Lavar Ball Regarding Business Ownership Moving Forward
This past week Lavar and the Ball Boys were in town for the second and final stop in Texas for the 2018 inaugural season of the Junior Basketball Association. The Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX was the venue of choice, and it provided the platform that saw two exciting games from Los Angeles vs. Atlanta and Chicago vs. Dallas.
LaMelo and LiAngelo both play for their hometown team the Los Angeles Ballers, and they put on a show in the first game. The Los Angeles Ballers destroyed their competition from Atlanta 170-123. Both Ball brothers would finish the game with 48 points apiece.
After the game, I was able to catch up with Lavar and ask him a couple of questions regarding what he looks for when he is looking to invest in a business venture.
“When I’m investing, I’m not going to say I’m looking for something specific it just happens naturally and organically whatever I want to pursue I got after. So, it is not like I am taking a gamble and say let me see if I can make some money on this or not. It’s just whatever I want to do.” Said Ball.
I would follow up that question by asking if he would be interested in teaming up with LeBron James regarding a business opportunity at some point?
“At this time I don’t know right now, LeBron he is doing his thing with his business, and I am blowing up my empire doing my thing with my business. So, who knows, LeBron is into movies, and production, and If I slowly get into that lane as we go, then maybe. I don’t know if I am going to get into that lane; I might not be a movie guy, where I say you know what? I want to make some movies. That is not my passion. So, I might have my league get bigger & bigger, and worry about things like that, but I don’t know if we are going to link up or not. I know he deals with Nike, and I deal with Big Baller Brand. I don’t see any co-brand or a connection.” said Ball
At halftime of the second game, Dallas led Chicago 62-45, and during the short break, Lavar and I continued our conversation. I asked him how important it is to own his company in regards to family.
“It is very important to know your self-worth and own your own thing. If you look at the long game and in the long run it is better to own your business.”
I would finish the interview by asking him about his plans for the JBA heading into next season.
“I’m not just getting my feet wet I always jump into the deep end. I do not just throw myself into the shallow end; we came up with a plan and executed it. They said we would not have a league and when I said I was going to create my league, they started laughing. Now, you and I are sitting here, and you are interviewing me about my league! So, that is what I am saying. If I put my mind to something, I’m going to do it. I’m not worried about what everyone is thinking on the outside, because we are going to be fine. All I have to do is be truthful to myself and the people around me then everything is going to happen organically. So, this is going to grow. It starts off small and then it will blossom into something great. Then they will have to look back and say ‘that Ball family put the JBA on the scene and it took off from there.'”
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
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