[Varon Corp (OTCID:OZSC)](/OTCMKTS:OZSC/Varon-Corp/)’s joint venture Ballislife Drink announced that it has signed Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren as a brand ambassador and equity partner, as the company continues to expand its roster of NBA athlete partnerships.
Duren, 22, was named a 2026 NBA All-Star and will be featured on a new Ballislife HYDRO signature can. The company expects the product to support the sports drink brand's presence in Michigan and other basketball-focused markets while leveraging Duren's profile among basketball fans.
According to the company, Duren became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career rebounds and the ninth player in league history to record at least 200 assists and 100 blocks before turning 21.
"Ballislife's community of basketball fans has always admired Jalen's unique combination of athleticism, intensity and skill on the court," Melcolm Ruffin, chief business officer of Ballislife, said. "Today we're proud to bring Jalen's excitement and star power to our portfolio of Ballislife HYDRO athlete ambassadors and equity partners."
Ballislife HYDRO's athlete partnerships provide participating players with equity in the company rather than relying solely on traditional endorsement arrangements. The company said the structure is intended to align the athletes' interests with the brand's longer-term growth.
"Jalen represents the next generation of NBA stars, and that's exactly who Ballislife has always celebrated," Ballislife CEO Matt Rodriguez said.
"We've followed his journey from his early basketball career to becoming one of the league's premier young big men, and we're excited to welcome him to the Ballislife family. We're not just adding another athlete, we're building long-term relationships with players who genuinely represent the future of the game."
Benjamin Schubert, Varon CEO, said that Duren's addition provides the company with another athlete-branded product while expanding Ballislife HYDRO's reach in Michigan.
"Every athlete partnership we announce has to create value beyond marketing," Schubert said. "Jalen has already accomplished things at his age that only a handful of players in NBA history have achieved, and we believe his career is only beginning. His signature can gives us another unique product that retailers and consumers can rally around while further strengthening Ballislife HYDRO's presence in one of the country's most passionate basketball markets."
Lior Srulovicz, president and chief financial officer of Varon, added that the growing roster of athlete equity partners is intended to build longer-term alignment between athletes and the Ballislife brand. "Every new athlete partnership strengthens more than our marketing efforts, it strengthens the value of the Ballislife ecosystem," Srulovicz said.
Ballislife Drink is a joint venture between Varon USA, the US subsidiary of [Varon Corp (OTCID:OZSC)](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/OTCMKTS:OZSC/Varon-Corp/), and Ballislife, a basketball media platform.