Lonzo Ball’s career is one of the most painful narratives in the NBA of the 21st century. Entering the American league as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, his tenure with the Lakers perhaps didn’t do justice to the talent he possessed, something that did come to light during his spells with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Chicago Bulls, precisely where everything started to go awry.
After a spectacular start to the 2021-22 season, a severe meniscus injury opened the door to two and a half years on the sidelines. Even then there were fears he might retire, but in the 2024-25 season he returned to play before signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the next. It was thrilling to see him back on the court, but he was no longer the same.
In February of this year he was traded to the Utah Jazz, the team that soon after released him. There was talk of some interest from teams such as the Denver Nuggets, but since then no one has offered him a contract. Such a scenario, along with his most recent words, suggested that he was stepping away from professional basketball.
«I feel like I gave my all for basketball and that everything I have in life I owe to this sport. I’m grateful simply for having made it to the league and being able to play for nine years. To be honest, I never felt like I’d hit my ceiling… Yet I managed to get there, to play, to wear the jersey and do everything I dreamed of as a child. That was enough for me», he stated in the latest episode of Ball in the Family.
Lonzo Ball Still Waiting for an Opportunity
Seeing that his words have gone viral and that many assume he has retired (or will announce it soon), Lonzo’s elder brother has come forward through his X account, underscoring that he is still waiting for a call to return to the American courts. «Did I retire? News to me. I’m still waiting for a call… The NBA season is long,» he says.
While Lonzo’s desire is firm and clear, a different matter is whether his most recent form would help him land with a team. Far from his peak, with Cleveland he finished with an average of 4.6 points in 20.8 minutes per game. Additionally, his shooting percentages were quite poor (30.1% from the field and 27.2% from beyond the arc). It is not exactly the strongest resume.
