The Charlotte Hornets have got quite the attention lately. From selecting Brandon Miller with the second pick in the draft to Michael Jordan‘s move to liquidate his ownership rights, the Hornets have been making major moves. The franchise also tied its superstar, LaMelo Ball, to a 5-year, $260 million deal in an effort to keep the young core intact. Now, the 21-year-old has already made another huge announcement with the $8 billion brand, Puma.

The Hornets have been one of the worst-performing teams in the league over the last decade. With major changes happening, however, fans will be hoping for a more consistent team.

Hornets star’s unique way of selling signature sneakers

21-year-old LaMelo Ball is stirring the hornet’s nest with his five-year massive contract, putting him at the top with Tyrese Halliburton, who earlier signed the same deal with the Indiana Pacers.?These two young veterans will now earn more than Warriors superstar Stephen Curry for the upcoming season. Though it has been just a few hours since the extension broke the internet, Ball has already made another huge announcement: The MB 0.3!

Well, Ball’s iconic kicks with Puma have given an update.?The last two shoes of Ball, MB 0.1 and MB 0.2, made a great impact amid bestsellers like LeBron’s, Curry’s, and many more. However, this time, Ball has announced a unique and only way to buy these vibrant shoes which could affect the business.

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Ball, along with the famous German brand, has made a confident move this time, which might not get the approval from fans. The third signature sneaker comes in the form of a limited-edition ?GutterMelo? collab with NFT collectible company ‘Gutter Cat Gang’. Those NFTs will be sold for $175 via the OpenSea marketplace and later, the NFT can be redeemed for the actual sneakers from July 18 to August 20.

As Ball explained the new kicks in a video, he added, “Only can get it if you get the NFT.”

The 6’7 guard and the billionaire sports company have decided to sell the signature sneakers only through NFTs. Ball has followed in the footsteps of other NBA stars like Stephen Curry, Paul George, and others by endorsing NFTs publicly. The concept of redeeming NFTs for actual merchandise was popularized by RTFKT.

With this unique way to launch the sneakers, Ball will be hoping to earn big. However, that might not be the most important factor for him anymore considering the extension he recently signed with the Hornets.

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Nonetheless, the fans have already started to show their disapproval on social media questioning the method behind the marketing madness. Currently, Nike remains the dominant brand in basketball’s sneaker market, with around 67% of NBA players choosing the brand during the 2023 season. This is followed by Adidas, Jordan, and then, Puma. However, Puma may gain more relevance after endorsements by Ball and the Pheonix Sun’s Deandre Ayton.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.