Lonzo Ball seemed to indicate he was retiring from basketball during a recent appearance on the "Ball in the Family" podcast. Ball entered the NBA with high expectations as the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft. He never lived up to his full potential as he dealt with injury issues, notching stints with the Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It wasn't as hard as people would think, only because I felt like I never shortchanged the game. I feel like I gave everything I had to hoop. Everything I got in my life is because of hoop," Ball said.
"I'm grateful to make it to the league and even play nine years. That’s how I look at the world," Ball added. While many took this statement as a retirement announcement, Ball said that's not the case.
News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long," Ball wrote on social media. Ball hasn't appeared in more than 63 regular-season games as he's dealt with a variety of injury issues throughout his career. Through 35 games with the Cavaliers in 2025-26, the 28-year-old point guard averaged 4.6 points, four rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
Ball's younger brother, LaMelo, is entering the next chapter of his NBA career as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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