Lonzo Ball facts for kids
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Ball with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 27, 1997 Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| High school | Chino Hills (Chino Hills, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UCLA (2016–2017) |
| NBA Draft | 2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 2017–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2019 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2019–2021 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2021–2025 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2025–2026 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Lonzo Anderson Ball (born October 27, 1997) is an American professional basketball player. He is known for his skills as a point guard. Lonzo played college basketball for one season at UCLA. He was recognized as a top college player before being chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA draft. He was the second player picked overall. In 2018, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In high school, Lonzo was a star player at Chino Hills High School. In 2016, he won many national awards. He led his team, along with his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, to a perfect 35–0 season. They were ranked the best high school team in the country. During his freshman year at college (2016–17), he led all college players in assists. He also set a new record for assists in a season at UCLA. Lonzo received the Wayman Tisdale Award as the best freshman player in the nation.
During his time in the NBA, Lonzo faced some challenges with injuries. He played for the Lakers, then the New Orleans Pelicans, and later the Chicago Bulls. A knee injury kept him from playing in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons. After the 2024–25 season, Lonzo was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was later traded to the Utah Jazz in February 2026, but was waived the same day, making him a free agent.
Contents
Lonzo's Early Life and High School Success
Lonzo Ball was born in Anaheim, California. His parents, LaVar and Tina Ball, both played college basketball. Lonzo started playing basketball when he was just two years old. He looked up to LeBron James from a young age.
Lonzo grew up with his younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo. Their father coached them in basketball until they reached high school. Lonzo played for Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California. In his junior year (2014–15), he had amazing stats. He averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game.
In his senior year, Lonzo led his high school team to an undefeated 35–0 record. They won a state championship and were ranked the best team in the nation. His brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, also played on this successful team. Lonzo often achieved a triple-double, averaging 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 11.7 assists. He earned many national awards, like the Naismith Prep Player of the Year.
By the end of high school, Lonzo was considered one of the top basketball recruits in the country. In 2015, he decided to play college basketball for the UCLA Bruins.
College Basketball Journey at UCLA
In his freshman year at UCLA (2016–17), Lonzo Ball was quickly recognized as a top college player. He was on the watch list for the John R. Wooden Award. Lonzo's amazing passing skills helped UCLA improve their team record significantly. He led all college players in assists that season. His play made the Bruins one of the best scoring teams in the country. In his very first college game, he scored 19 points, had 11 assists, and grabbed eight rebounds.
Lonzo was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Wooden Legacy tournament. He led UCLA to a championship win. He continued to impress throughout the season. In one game against the Washington Huskies, Lonzo scored 22 points. Many NBA scouts were there to watch him play against another top point guard, Markelle Fultz.
Lonzo set a new personal record with 14 assists in a game against Washington State. He also broke a 30-year-old record for most assists by a freshman in the Pac-12. UCLA made it to the NCAA tournament. Lonzo continued to break school records for assists. The Bruins reached the "Sweet 16" round but lost to Kentucky. After this game, Lonzo decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft. Many experts believed he would be one of the top players chosen.
For the season, Lonzo averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.0 rebounds. He was the only player in the country to achieve these numbers. He was also very efficient, making over half of his shots. Lonzo was named a first-team All-American by several organizations. He also won the Wayman Tisdale Award as the best freshman player. He was named Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year.
Professional Basketball Career
Joining the Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2019)
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In the 2017 NBA draft, Lonzo Ball was picked second overall by his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined other young talents like Brandon Ingram. The Lakers hoped Lonzo would become a key player for their team. During the 2017 NBA Summer League, Lonzo was named the MVP. He averaged impressive stats, including 16.3 points and 9.3 assists per game. He even achieved two triple-doubles, which is rare for a rookie.
In his first NBA season (2017–18), Lonzo played in 52 games. He missed some games due to shoulder and knee injuries. In one early game, he scored 29 points, had 11 rebounds, and nine assists. This was almost a triple-double. On November 11, he became the youngest player at the time to get a triple-double. He recorded 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. He achieved another triple-double later that month with 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Lonzo faced more injuries during his rookie season. He sprained his left shoulder and later his left knee. These injuries kept him off the court for several weeks. He was chosen for the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend but could not play due to injury. He finished his rookie season averaging 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In his second season (2018–19), Lonzo had surgery on his left knee. The Lakers also signed superstar LeBron James, which changed Lonzo's role on the team. Lonzo improved his defense and became a strong defender. In December, he and LeBron James both achieved triple-doubles in the same game. This was a rare feat for teammates. In January 2019, Lonzo suffered a serious left ankle sprain with a torn ligament. This injury ended his season early.
Moving to the New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2021)
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On July 6, 2019, Lonzo was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. This trade was part of a big deal for Anthony Davis. Lonzo played his first game for the Pelicans on October 22. In December, he scored a career-high seven three-pointers and 27 points. He also had 10 rebounds and eight assists in a win. In January 2020, he recorded his first triple-double with the Pelicans.
Lonzo continued to improve his shooting with the Pelicans. He matched his career-high of seven three-pointers in March. He also made seven three-pointers the next day. From December 2019 to March 2020, he averaged 12.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.7 rebounds. He shot 39.2% from three-point range during this period.
In the 2020–21 season, Lonzo was healthy and played well. He set a new career-high with eight three-pointers in April. He also scored a career-high 33 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in May. He matched this 33-point record a few days later. He finished the season with career-highs in scoring (14.6 points), three-point percentage (37.8%), and overall shooting percentage (41.4%).
Time with the Chicago Bulls (2021–2025)
On August 8, 2021, Lonzo Ball was traded to the Chicago Bulls. He signed a four-year contract with the team. He made his Bulls debut on October 20, scoring 12 points. On October 22, he achieved a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans.
In January 2022, Lonzo had surgery on his left knee for a meniscus tear. He was expected to miss several weeks. However, he experienced pain during his recovery and was ruled out for the rest of the season in April. He played in only 35 games that season. At the time of his injury, the Bulls had one of the best records in the Eastern Conference. Lonzo was having his best shooting season, making over 40% of his three-point shots.
Lonzo missed the entire 2022–23 season due to ongoing knee discomfort. He had another surgery in March 2023 to help with his knee. In June 2023, the Bulls announced that he was not expected to play in the 2023–24 season either. In May 2024, Lonzo shared that he also had a meniscus transplant for his knee.
In July 2024, Lonzo was cleared to play in full-contact scrimmages. He participated in these practices in August without any problems. On October 16, Lonzo played in a preseason game, his first game since January 2022. He made his regular season return on October 23, 2024, in the Bulls' opening game. He scored five points and had four assists in 14 minutes. On January 12, 2025, he started his first game in almost three years, scoring 15 points. He later scored a season-high 18 points on January 27, 2025. On February 5, 2025, Lonzo and the Bulls agreed to a two-year contract extension.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz (2025–2026)
On July 6, 2025, Lonzo was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played for the Cavaliers until February 5, 2026, when he was traded to the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz waived him on the same day, making him a free agent.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | L.A. Lakers | 52 | 50 | 34.2 | .360 | .305 | .451 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 1.7 | .8 | 10.2 |
| 2018–19 | L.A. Lakers | 47 | 45 | 30.3 | .406 | .329 | .417 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 1.5 | .4 | 9.9 |
| 2019–20 | New Orleans | 63 | 54 | 32.1 | .403 | .375 | .566 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 1.4 | .6 | 11.8 |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans | 55 | 55 | 31.8 | .414 | .378 | .781 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 1.5 | .6 | 14.6 |
| 2021–22 | Chicago | 35 | 35 | 34.6 | .423 | .423 | .750 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.8 | .9 | 13.0 |
| 2024–25 | Chicago | 35 | 14 | 22.2 | .366 | .344 | .815 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .5 | 7.6 |
| 2025–26 | Cleveland | 35 | 3 | 20.8 | .301 | .272 | .667 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 1.3 | .3 | 4.6 |
| Career | 322 | 256 | 30.1 | .392 | .355 | .603 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 1.5 | .6 | 10.6 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | UCLA | 36 | 36 | 35.1 | .551 | .412 | .673 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 1.8 | .8 | 14.6 |
Lonzo's Player Profile and Style
Lonzo Ball used to have a unique way of shooting the ball. He would bring the ball from his left hip to the left side of his forehead. He preferred to shoot while moving to his left. This shooting style led to him making about 31% of his three-point shots with the Lakers.
Before the 2020–21 NBA season, Lonzo changed his shooting form. He started shooting in a more traditional way, with the ball squared up to his forehead. This change helped him improve his three-point shooting to a career-high 37.5% with the Pelicans.
Even when he was younger, Lonzo would shoot three-pointers from very far away. In college, he often shot from beyond the NBA three-point line. His favorite shot when time was running out was a step-back three-pointer from deep.
Awards and Honors
- NBA
- 2× Rising Stars Challenge (2018, 2019)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2018)
- College
- Associated Press first-team All-American (2017)
- USBWA first-team All-American (2017)
- NABC first-team All-American (2017)
- Sporting News first-team All-American (2017)
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2017)
- Wayman Tisdale Award (2017)
- Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2017)
- Pac-12 All-Freshman team (2017)
- Honorable mention Pac-12 All-Defensive Team
- High school
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2016)
- Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year (2016)
- USA Today Player of the Year (2016)
- Mr. Basketball USA (2016)
- McDonald's All-American (2016)
- Ballislife All-American (2016)
- Ballislife All-American Game MVP (2016)
- California Mr. Basketball (2016)
- Los Angeles Times Player of the Year (2016)
Endorsements and Business Ventures
When Lonzo started his professional career, he chose to wear sports gear from his family's company, Big Baller Brand. His father, LaVar, wanted Lonzo to promote their own brand. In May 2017, Big Baller Brand released Lonzo's first shoe, the ZO2. The price of the shoe caused a lot of discussion.
Lonzo later decided to change his approach to endorsements. He removed references to Big Baller Brand from his social media. He also covered up his Big Baller Brand tattoo. Lonzo posted a photo on Instagram with the caption "Moving on to bigger and better #MyOwnMan," showing his new direction.
Music and Television Appearances
Lonzo Ball enjoys making rap music in his free time. He has recorded several songs. He once said he would be a rapper if he wasn't an NBA player.
In September 2017, Lonzo released his first rap song, "Melo Ball 1", dedicated to his youngest brother, LaMelo. He also released "ZO2", a song about his own shoe brand. The next month, he released "Super Saiyan", inspired by the anime Dragon Ball Z. In February 2018, Lonzo released his first album, Born 2 Ball, under the name Zo. The album appeared on Billboard charts for independent and heatseeker albums. He later released another album, BBA (Bounce Back Album) in 2020.
In 2020, Lonzo appeared on the TV show The Masked Singer as "Whatchamacallit".
Personal Life
In February 2017, Lonzo's mother, Tina, had a stroke. She was in the hospital for two months. In August, Lonzo and his family started their own reality show on Facebook Watch called Ball in the Family.
Lonzo has a daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Lonzo Ball para niños
