Lonzo Ball and agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports mutually agreed to part ways, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported.
While this news arrived amid reports that Lonzo is suing his former financial manager Alan Foster for at least $2 million in damages, Lonzo insisted Gaines had nothing to do with that.
“Harrison has always had my back and although we will no longer be working together after mutually deciding to part ways; our relationship will always be bigger than basketball,” Lonzo told ESPN in a statement.
Gaines, who recently inked Yale’s Miye Oni, also expressed his gratitude to Lonzo, wishing him success in the future.
“Lonzo Ball was the first client to sign with me. He has been nothing short of phenomenal and is one of the bright young NBA Stars. I thank him and his family for giving me an opportunity,” Gaines told ESPN in a statement. “Mutually, we have decided to part ways. I wish Lonzo great success in the future. As I turn this page, I will continue to work hard for all of my clients.”
As for Lonzo’s next move, it appears his father Lavar is still calling the shots, per Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Lavar has been vetting agencies across the business, with the desire that the agency can pair Lonzo with his younger brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo, on the same NBA team. Whichever agency ultimately signs Lonzo will also have to find him a new shoe deal after Lonzo parted ways with Big Baller Brand last month.
After Big Baller Brand’s failure, some agents are concerned with the family’s financial situation, as well as LaVar’s omnipresent involvement with his children. Some agents became uninterested at the prospect of signing Ball once they realized Lavar was still in charge.
CAA is viewed as the favorite to sign Lonzo.