Lonzo Anderson Ball, born on October 27, 1997, in Anaheim, California, is an American professional basketball player.
Ball has carved out a reputation as one of the NBA’s most creative playmakers, capable of orchestrating fast breaks with precision and unselfish play.
Raised in a family deeply immersed in basketball, he began playing the sport at age two and idolized LeBron James from a young age.
His journey to the NBA was marked by early promise, leading to a highly anticipated college stint and a top draft selection.
Off the court, Ball has navigated family fame, business ventures like the Big Baller Brand, and personal challenges, including fatherhood to his daughter Zoey, born in 2018.
Siblings
Lonzo is the eldest of three sons born to parents LaVar and Tina Ball, both former college athletes who instilled a competitive drive in their children from an early age.
His younger brother, LiAngelo Ball, born in November 1998, followed a similar path into basketball, committing to UCLA like Lonzo but never playing a game there due to eligibility issues stemming from a shoplifting incident in China during a preseason tour.
LiAngelo pursued professional opportunities overseas and in the G League, though Lonzo has candidly advised him that the NBA may not be realistic, encouraging a focus on international leagues where he can thrive financially and competitively.
The youngest sibling, LaMelo Ball, born in August 2001, has emerged as the most electrifying of the trio, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 with the Charlotte Hornets and securing an All-Star selection the following season.
LaMelo’s flashy style and highlight-reel dunks have drawn comparisons to his brothers’ skills but with a more scoring-oriented flair.
Together, the Ball brothers led Chino Hills High School to an undefeated 35-0 national championship season in 2016, a feat that propelled their fame and underscored their unbreakable bond.
Career
Ball’s professional career launched with immense hype after a stellar one-season stint at UCLA, where he averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and an NCAA-leading 7.6 assists per game, earning consensus first-team All-American honors.
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Selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball stepped into the spotlight as a rookie, appearing in 52 games despite shoulder and knee injuries, and posting a near triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in just his second outing against the Phoenix Suns.
His Lakers tenure, spanning two seasons, highlighted his elite passing—averaging 7.2 assists as a rookie—and defensive instincts, though shooting inconsistencies and family controversies occasionally overshadowed his growth.
In 2019, Ball was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles, where he flourished alongside Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, achieving career highs like 33 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and 17 assists versus the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.
His time in New Orleans solidified his reputation as a transition maestro and lock-down perimeter defender.
Signing a four-year, $85 million deal with the Chicago Bulls in 2021 via sign-and-trade, Ball’s Bulls era was derailed by persistent left knee issues, including a meniscus tear that forced him to miss the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, undergoing multiple surgeries including a cartilage transplant.
Defying odds, he returned in October 2024, contributing modestly in 35 games with averages of 4.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists before a sprained right wrist sidelined him for the final 22 regular-season games and playoffs.
In a surprising offseason move after the 2024-25 season, Ball was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro, positioning him for a fresh start under coach Kenny Atkinson, who praised his workout form and potential role as a starting point guard amid Darius Garland’s toe injury.
Accolades
In high school at Chino Hills, Ball was crowned the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year in 2016, capping a senior season where he led his undefeated squad to national supremacy and earned multiple national player of the year recognitions.
Transitioning to UCLA, his freshman campaign yielded unanimous first-team All-American status from outlets like the Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, and Sporting News, alongside the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award and MVP of the Wooden Legacy tournament after guiding the Bruins to victory over Texas A&M.
He stood as the sole freshman finalist for prestigious accolades including the Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year, and Oscar Robertson Trophy, while breaking Pac-12 records for freshman assists.
Entering the NBA, Ball’s rookie excellence earned him a spot on the 2017-18 All-Rookie Second Team, a testament to his immediate impact with multiple triple-doubles in his first 20 games—one of only six players, alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson, to average at least six rebounds and six assists per game at age 20 or younger.
These achievements, coupled with his unique statistical milestones like the most rebounds by a rookie guard since Steve Francis in 1999-2000, underscore Ball’s enduring influence as a visionary guard whose accolades span from high school dominance to professional promise.
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