In 1997 I waited in line at the Liberty Tree Mall in Peabody, Massachusetts to acquire the John Hancock of a handful of Celtics players at the time: Antoine Walker, Rick Fox, Eric Williams, and David Wesley. With a smile, they signed my Celtics banner that still hangs in my childhood room two decades later. I can’t remember what I did this weekend, but I will never forget the impact that day had on my Celtics fandom and my love for the game of basketball. It cost my mother zero dollars.
Fast forward to today, and we live in a world where a man who has played less than a half a season of NBA basketball is charging fans $199 for scribbling his name on memorabilia.
Lonzo Ball having his first official autograph signing next week as All-Star comes to town. pic.twitter.com/EVqGrYjm92
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 9, 2018
Now I know what you’re saying to yourself: what kind of grade-A asshole would pay $200 from a dude averaging 10 points per game and whose team is 11 games below .500?
Well, about 150 Lakers die hards showed up to the Puente Hills Mall in California to shell out $200 for an autograph. That math works out to $29,850 for two hours of work, given that each person only had one item for Lonzo to sign.
Around a 150 or so wait for @NBA @Lakers #LonzoBall to sign autographs at #puentehillsmall @InsideSoCalSpts @SGVNSports #basketball #chinohillshuskies @UCLAAthletics #photography pic.twitter.com/8nHIwlmYfM
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) February 17, 2018
@NBA @Lakers #LonzoBall to sign autographs at #puentehillsmall @InsideSoCalSpts @SGVNSports #basketball #chinohillshuskies @UCLAAthletics #photography pic.twitter.com/ZtVD4Jwkk2
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) February 17, 2018
Clever sign, tool.
Around 200 for @NBA @Lakers #LonzoBall to sign autographs at #puentehillsmall @InsideSoCalSpts @SGVNSports #basketball #chinohillshuskies @UCLAAthletics #photography pic.twitter.com/ZsHpGDrWJ9
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) February 17, 2018
Photos: Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball signs autographs at Puente Hills Mall https://t.co/FEjtwUuLgW pic.twitter.com/WOzJ0GPlqA
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) February 17, 2018
Los Angeles Lakers' and former Chino Hills and UCLA basketball player Lonzo Ball signed autographs at the Sports Authentics store in the Puente Hills Mall. @nba @Lakers @SGVNSports @InsideSoCalSpts #basketball #sports @UCLAAthletics #chinohillsbasketball #photography pic.twitter.com/ThbSWMf25i
— Keith Birmingham (@photowkb) February 17, 2018
Before this season began, Lonzo signed a two-year $13.7 million contract with the Lakers. Good to see he’s out nickel-and-diming the fans who help pay his salary. God, I hate that there’s a market for this and I hate even more that I’d probably do the same thing if I were Lonzo. I’m a weak man.
[h/t Total Pro Sports]