LaMelo Ball Launches MB1 Esports Venture With One Up, Puma

Reigning NBA Rookie of the 12 months LaMelo Ball has released MB1 Gaming – a platform for esports tournaments, items drops and written content distribution – established with the A single Up OS application. As portion of the kick-off, MB1 and flagship associate Puma will sponsor a totally free-to-enter match starting Feb. 5 for players of NBA 2K.

The partnership with Just one Up, whose app allows branded esports services on its platform, is uncommon amongst athletes associated in esports. A selection of distinguished NBA and other sports’ stars, teams and leagues have invested directly in current professional esports groups or franchises.

Ball’s strategy will as a substitute allow for other individuals to perform or create groups that engage in in events his system will sponsor with corporate partners this sort of as Puma.

“Instead of backing an esports team, I’d rather start off my own inevitably and in get to do that I needed to create an esports model and get started setting up group, which is why I partnered with One Up,” Ball reported in an e mail interview. “This collaboration will be the to start with phase to discovering the leading gamers to join my staff in the around long run.”

The MB1 platform’s 1st occasion begins subsequent weekend, an NBA 2K match sponsored by Puma and 1 Up . Finalists will compete in a $25,000 playoff during the NBA’s All-Star Video game festivities in Cleveland on Feb. 18. All finalists will get airfare and resort bills to just take portion in the playoffs, and get a pair of LaMelo-branded Puma MB.01 footwear.

Ball reported the partnership with Puma is “Ongoing. We are locked in. They assistance me in all the things I do, and I know they are major

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NBA Star Power Index: LeBron James raining 3-pointers; LaMelo Ball has to have Warriors kicking themselves

Welcome back to NBA Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the players who are most controlling the buzz around the league. Inclusion on this list isn’t necessarily a good thing. It simply means you’re capturing the NBA world’s attention. This is also not a ranking. The players listed are in no particular order as it pertains to the buzz they’re generating. This column will run every week throughout the regular season. 

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The Lakers have gotten out to a sluggish 2-2 start (they survived in OT at San Antonio on Tuesday without LeBron James, who was out with a sore leg), but the good news is LeBron James continues to look like a player capable of carrying a team. James’ 3-point shot is particularly splashy (as is his fadeaway). 

Through three games, James is taking just under 10 3-pointers per game and hitting 48 percent of them. If you’re interested in how the Lakers have played with using Russell Westbrook as a pick-and-roll partner with LeBron, our Sam Quinn provided a good breakdown here. 

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Do yourself a favor and clear your schedule for as many Hornets games as you can. They are an Indy car, and LaMelo Ball is in the driver’s seat with the throttle pegged. Charlotte has jumped out to a 3-1 start with Ball shooting 50 percent from 3 on eight attempts a night; he’s already made seven 3s in two separate games. 

That kind of shooting was simply not expected from Ball, and certainly not this early. His comfort and confidence bely his experience. When he’s making 3s off the dribble and the catch on top of making passes like this one below, he’s an All-Star level player already. 

People are going to play the premature card, but the Golden State Warriors, though they’re obviously going

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