LaMelo Ball & PUMA Take Over Fortnite Ahead of NBA Season

Originally posted on Sneakers on SI | By Pat Benson | Last updated Sep 25, 2024 7:30 PM ET

The NBA season is almost here. Players report for their team's annual media days clad in fresh uniforms and new sneakers. Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is taking a different approach to promoting his latest sneakers.

Today, PUMA officially unveiled the Tilted Zone Wars PUMA x LaMelo Ball game experience in Fortnite.

Built in partnership with Command Line, the creator of bespoke gaming experiences with a focus on uniting brands, athletes, and entertainers with the gaming community.

The activation focuses on Ball's favorite Fortnite game, Tilted Towers: Zone Wars, and launches alongside the release of Ball's latest signature shoe, the PUMA MB.04.

PUMA

Pulling inspiration from Ball's "Not From Here" tagline, the game mode will feature the story of the "Not From Here" alien invasion with the latest Fortnite mechanics, weapons, and gear. All aspects of the game mode will feature a PUMA x Melo twist, including:

Custom Shoes / Back Bling: All players will be given a PUMA shoebox at Level 1 with the ability to earn custom models of various MB.04 colorways.
Calling Cards: Players will unlock special calling cards that display on their opponents' screens showing the opponent who knocked them, their rank, and their in-game score.
Elimination Effects: This could include dollar bills, logos, basketballs, etc. flying off the eliminated player, laser beam effects, or other custom designs.
Custom Win Screen: Winning players will get a custom win screen that shows their avatar in front of PUMA x Melo branding elements, such as: "1:1", "Not From Here", etc.

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Players will join the game mode through a custom pre-game lobby featuring PUMA and Melo branding.

The lobby provides players with information about PUMA, Ball, and upcoming MB.04 releases. Players will return to this location between rounds to purchase upgrades, equip shoes, interact with one another, etc.

NBA fans have known that Ball is "not from here" since he stepped foot on the hardwood, and today is more proof that he and PUMA are operating at a different level. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all your sneaker news from the NBA and beyond.