Lonzo Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and the former UCLA star had plenty of potential coming into the league.
Ball spoke about his injuries on the latest episode of the “Ball In The Family” podcast.
“I feel like I gave everything I had to hoop, and I feel like everything I got in my life is because of hoop. I’m grateful to even make it to the league and be able to play for 9 years,” Ball said.
With that, some posted that Ball had announced his retirement, but the former Lakers guard took to X with a strong response to those reports.
“I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long”
I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long 🤷🏻♂️
— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) September 23, 2026
Ball also reflected on the tough battles he had with injuries during his career, saying he never got to his peak.
“I don’t think I ever got to my peak, and damn, that s*** sucks, but at the same time there’s people that don’t have meals at night to eat. That’s how I look at the world,” Ball said. That clip circulated on X, with several reporting that he was announcing his retirement from the NBA.
Ball began his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he played just two seasons before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 as part of the Anthony Davis blockbuster deal.
Ball then spent two seasons with the Pelicans before going to the Chicago Bulls and signing a four-year, $85 million deal as part of a sign-and-trade. Ball played a total of 70 games with the Bulls in four seasons due to injuries and multiple knee surgeries.
In June 2025, the Bulls then traded Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, and Ball played 35 games for Cleveland, although he averaged just 4.6 points in just over 20 minutes per game.
Right now, Ball is a free agent, and it turns out he is still searching for a new team despite reports of him retiring.
