Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers goalkeeper, breaks ties with Big Baller co-owner following allegations that $ 1.5 million is missing – ESPN

The first major concerns about Lonzo and Big Baller Brand's finances came in the fall, when Lukanga sent two emails to Lonzo and LaVar about a financial review that raised questions.

In an email sent in October to Lonzo and his father under the subject "Urgent – $ 1.5 Million Missing Dollars", Lukanga wrote that he had not managed to appeal to Foster ", where $ 1.5 million was paid in cash. [gone]"Lukanga wrote that he had repeatedly questioned Foster on transactions of an amount equal to this, but Foster" will not show any invoice or documentation of such expenses. He will not even give me the number to the sellers that he says he paid. I have never seen a company operate by withdrawing millions in cash … Only Alan and you can withdraw money and I know you have not withdrawn $ 1.5 million … WHAT IS THE MONEY ??? "

Lukanga has attached two detailed reports to the e-mail which he said indicated unexplained withdrawals of Big Baller Brand and transactions between BBB and Foster's firm, Marathon Consulting Inc. "More than $ 1.5 million has He has already paid more than $ 474,000 through Marathon Consulting (see attached report), with nearly $ 2 million in Alan's hands, but $ 1.5 million disappeared in cash can not be followed, "Lukanga wrote.

We still do not know where the million and a half dollars is.

By the end of November, Lukanga no longer represented Lonzo, although he had been rehired by Lonzo in recent days.

"My goal in this life is to protect, serve and educate families, especially black families," Lukanga wrote in his October email. "It breaks my heart to see that the Ball family is taking advantage; I love the family, things are not going well with companies …"

In his statement to ESPN, Lonzo said that he had asked Lukanga, Moore and his agent, Harrison Gaines, to help solve the problem.

"It was a very difficult decision because I had a lot of love and respect for Alan," Lonzo said. "But the time has come for me to take responsibility for my own career on and off the field."

Lonzo's agent, Gaines, told ESPN this week that he had been "on the periphery of the rest of the Ball family businesses" and that "Lonzo has now given me the power to play a more active role in his career. "

In his statement to ESPN this week, Lukanga referred to his long-time financial advisory business, Life Line Financial Group, whose clients include artists such as Issa Rae and athletes such as Houston Texans' wide receiver , DeAndre Hopkins.

"We are relieved that Lonzo took the necessary steps at age 21 to remove Foster from any involvement in his business," Lukanga wrote. "We remain committed to helping Lonzo take full control of his financial future."

Sources close to the Ball family told ESPN that Lukanga had resigned in the fall, informing Lonzo of his concern over the tax problems and the lack of explanation he had received about the alleged missing money.

The Los Angeles Lakers declined to comment to ESPN on Lonzo's personal and business problems on Thursday.

In addition to his work with Big Baller Brand and the Junior Association of LaVar, a professional league for player development, Foster appeared in almost every episode of "Ball in the Family". He was often shown that he was consulting LaVar about decisions affecting the family or the company. In one episode, he was shown to Foster who was trying to understand why JBA players were having trouble collecting their paychecks.

In an interview with ESPN the Magazine in 2017, LaVar was excited about Foster.

"This guy is one of the smartest suckers of all time," LaVar said. "He knows how things are going, we had shirts that said Team Ball. [and] & # 39;. UnbelievaBall & # 39; And he [Foster] Said, & # 39; LaVar, your creativity is crazy. Let's create your brand, man. Your brand is bigger than anything. Someone will run away with your … dude.

"He [Foster] It was like: I'm going to tell you what. You'll put all the work in with your boys. I will come back and run the agency. Whatever you need from me Let me do it, though. "

Foster met the Ball family shortly after being released from prison for his role in the 2002 financial plan. Foster was already charged with financial crimes when he was convicted in 1999 in Los Angeles County. , for carrying a concealed handgun without a license. And in September 2009, while he was still on probation for the financial plan conviction, Foster was arrested for violating his probation release, at the level of crimes. This is not specified in the court documents. He was sentenced to five months in prison and released in February 2010, about a year before meeting with the Ball family.

Senior prosecutor Joseph Zwicker told ESPN, "They targeted African Americans whom they came to know through churches and other means, and made various misrepresentations about their ability to do so. to repay significant sums on the investments, which were false, and they admitted. "

Lonzo, considered the future of the Lakers before the arrival of LeBron James, was closed this season due to a serious ankle injury after 47 games. It was his third ankle injury, which prompted the Lakers to look for the root cause of his problems – including questioning his Big Baller Brand shoes.

"Yes, they spoke to me," Lonzo Ball told ESPN two weeks ago. "They asked me questions about it and I said to them:" I feel comfortable .If I was not, I would not play in them. If I did not play in [his signature BBB shoes], I would play Kobe [Bryant’s signature Nike shoe]. I work in [LeBron James’ signature Nike shoe]but that's because they're heavier. "

Lonzo also said that he had told the Lakers that he was ready to make adjustments – "just little things", he said – to his Big Baller Brand shoes if necessary.

According to two sources close to the family, over the last two years, the Lakers have also expressed their concerns to Foster about the many customer complaints about Big Baller Brand to the Better Business Bureau, which has given the company a negative score in 2018. year, the office reported having received 184 complaints in the last three years, mainly related to problems sending the correct goods, shipping orders within the time limits, and on the lack of information or answers to questions about the delivery status.

"They still have an F with us," Blair Looney, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central California and Inland Empire counties, told ESPN in January. "We continue to work with them to fix things."