Lonzo Ball is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball at UCLA before being selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Ball has been a popular figure in the world of basketball due to his impressive court vision and passing ability. Recently, there has been speculation that he may be considering retirement from the game due to multiple injuries and a diminished role with his current team. In this article, we will explore whether or not Lonzo Ball has actually retired from basketball.Lonzo Ball is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in Anaheim, California on October 27, 1997. Ball played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins before being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He has since also played for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Lonzo Ball’s College Career
Lonzo Ball had one of the most impressive college careers in recent memory. He attended UCLA for just one season, where he set numerous records and earned numerous accolades. He was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, first-team All-American, and a finalist for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. He also led the Bruins to a 31–5 record and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament.
During his freshman year at UCLA, Ball averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range and 55 percent from the field overall. His combination of size, speed and passing ability allowed him to be an offensive force in college basketball, as he was able to create shots for himself and others with ease. He also showed an ability to play tenacious defense when needed.
Off the court, Lonzo Ball was known as much for his flashy style as his play on it. His signature look included colorful shoes that drew attention from fans and media alike. His father LaVar was also very outspoken about his son’s talents during this time period, which helped draw even more attention to him on a national level.
Overall, Lonzo Ball’s one season at UCLA will go down as one of the best ever by a college basketball player. His dynamic play on both ends of the floor made him an incredibly valuable asset to have on any team, and he showed that he could handle both stardom and pressure with ease while at UCLA. It is no surprise that he was selected second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers after such a successful college career.
Drafting of Lonzo Ball
The Los Angeles Lakers made a huge splash in the 2017 NBA Draft by drafting Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick. The UCLA point guard was widely considered one of the best prospects in the draft, and was expected to be an impact player for the Lakers immediately. Ball has not disappointed, averaging 10.2 points, 6.9 assists and 6.3 rebounds through his first three NBA seasons. His ability to move the ball quickly and efficiently has been a huge asset to the Lakers’ offense, and he has already become one of the top playmakers in the league.
Ball’s shooting has been a bit inconsistent during his time with the Lakers, but he has been able to knock down shots from deep when needed. He also can be a disruptive defender on both ends of the court, using his length and quickness to cause turnovers and take away passing lanes. While he hasn’t been able to stay healthy for an entire season thus far in his career, when healthy Ball is one of the most dynamic players in the league and a key component for any team looking to make a playoff push.
The Los Angeles Lakers made an excellent choice when they drafted Lonzo Ball in 2017, as he has already become one of the top point guards in the league at just 22 years old. His combination of passing ability, defensive prowess and deep range makes him an invaluable asset on both ends of the court, and he should continue to develop into an even more dangerous player in coming seasons.
Lonzo Ball’s NBA Career
Lonzo Ball was selected second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a point guard from UCLA who has since become a household name in the NBA. Ball had an impressive rookie season, averaging 10.2 points, 6.9 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game. He also set a Lakers rookie record for triple-doubles, with two in his first season.
In the 2018-19 season, Ball was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis deal. With the Pelicans, he averaged 11 points and 7 assists per game while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range for the first time in his career. He also set career highs in steals and blocks per game during this season and proved to be a solid defender on the wing.
The 2019-20 season saw Ball take his game to another level as he started all 65 games for the Pelicans and averaged career highs of 12 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 1 steal per game. He also shot a career best from beyond the arc at 38 percent while connecting on 2 or more threes in 18 games throughout this year. His improved offensive production earned him a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team as well as an All-Star selection for 2020, becoming only the third player in franchise history (along with Chris Paul and David West) to be named an All-Star before turning 24 years old.
Going into this offseason, Lonzo Ball will be a restricted free agent after four seasons with New Orleans Pelicans. Despite not living up to expectations as a former second overall pick, Ball’s growth over these past four seasons has been undeniable and he is now widely viewed as one of best young point guards in basketball with room for further improvement moving forward into his fifth NBA season.
Lonzo Ball’s Injury History
Lonzo Ball has had a history of injuries throughout his young NBA career. He suffered a left knee injury in his first game with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He also missed significant time due to a left ankle sprain during the 2018-19 season, and a left adductor strain towards the end of that same season. In 2019-20, Ball missed five games due to a hip pointer and an ankle injury. More recently, he has been out for over two months due to a meniscus tear in his right knee. Despite all of these injuries, Ball has managed to stay relatively healthy throughout his career and is expected to make a full recovery from this latest setback.
In addition to his on-court injuries, Ball was forced to sit out for some time due to an illness at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. He returned after missing five games and went on to play in 56 games that year. Overall, while Lonzo Ball has had some tough luck with injuries throughout his career, he is still considered one of the most talented young players in the league and should continue to play at a high level as he continues his recovery from this most recent injury.
Impact of Injury on Lonzo Ball’s Performance
Lonzo Ball has been a prominent figure in the NBA since his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and has since been a key component of the Lakers’ success. However, his career has been plagued by injuries, which have had a significant impact on his performance.
Ball’s first major injury occurred during his rookie season, when he suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee. This injury caused him to miss 15 games, and when he returned to action, he was not able to perform at the same level as before. His shooting percentages dropped significantly and he was unable to stay healthy for an extended period of time.
In December of 2018, Ball suffered another knee injury that forced him to miss another 16 games. This time it was a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery and an extended period of rehabilitation before he could return to the court. Again, when he returned to action after this injury, his shooting percentages were down and his overall performance was not as good as it had been prior to the injury.
In addition to these two major injuries, Ball has also dealt with various minor ailments throughout his career. These have included ankle sprains, hamstring strains and shoulder soreness that have all caused him to miss additional games or play at less than full strength. While these injuries have not had as dramatic an impact on Ball’s performance as the two major knee injuries have had, they still serve as reminders of how fragile NBA players can be and how quickly injuries can derail a player’s career.
All in all, Lonzo Ball has dealt with multiple serious injuries throughout his career which have impacted both his ability to stay healthy and his overall performance on the court. While he is still very young and could potentially return to full strength after rehabilitation from any further injuries that may occur in future seasons, it is clear that these past issues will continue to affect him until he proves that he can stay healthy for an extended period of time.
Lonzo Ball’s Trade to New Orleans Pelicans
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to trade the former second overall pick Lonzo Ball to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a three-team deal. The trade also includes Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and multiple future draft picks. The Pelicans will now have three young stars in Ball, Ingram and Zion Williamson, giving them an incredibly promising core for the future.
The move was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and is a significant one for both teams involved. The Lakers had been trying to find a way to clear cap space so they could sign a maximum free agent this summer, and this trade gives them that opportunity. For the Pelicans, it gives them a talented young core that can help them compete in the Western Conference for years to come.
Lonzo Ball was originally selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game during his two seasons with the team but struggled with injuries during his time in L.A., missing 41 games due to various ailments.
The move signals an end of an era for the Lakers, who had been building around Ball since he was drafted in 2017. However, with LeBron James now on board and free agency looming, it appears that they are ready to move on from their young core and focus on signing star players this summer.
For the Pelicans, they now have an exciting trio of stars that could potentially compete for a playoff spot next season if they can stay healthy and develop chemistry together quickly. It’s an exciting time for New Orleans basketball fans as they look forward to seeing what Ball, Ingram and Williamson can accomplish together in the future.
New Orleans Pelicans’ Season with Lonzo Ball
The New Orleans Pelicans have had an exciting season with Lonzo Ball leading the way. The young guard has been a key part of the team’s success, as he has taken on a larger role in the offense and has become a leader both on and off the court. He is averaging 15.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from three-point range. Ball has also developed his playmaking ability, dishing out 5+ assists in 17 of his last 19 games. His defensive game has also improved, as he is now averaging 1.7 steals per game, good for fifth-best in the NBA.
Offensively, Ball’s presence has helped open up more opportunities for his teammates as well. Brandon Ingram is having a career year thanks to Ball’s passing ability and willingness to share the ball. He is currently averaging 24 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. In addition, rookies Zion Williamson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have taken advantage of their minutes with Ball on the floor to get great looks at the basket.
The Pelicans’ season with Lonzo Ball in tow has been an overall success thus far. They are currently tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings and are only 2 games out of fourth place with a record of 28-36. If they can continue to find success down this stretch run of games they will be in prime position to make some noise come playoff time.
Overall, New Orleans Pelicans’ season with Lonzo Ball at the helm has been a resounding success both on and off the court. His leadership on court coupled with his improved offensive abilities have helped lead this young team towards their playoff dreams. It will be exciting to see how far this team can go over these final few weeks of play!
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lonzo Ball has not retired from basketball. He is still playing the sport and is in the process of making a comeback as he works to overcome his injuries. Despite his struggles, he has remained focused on getting back to playing at a high level and providing value to any team that signs him. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Lonzo Ball and if he can regain his status as one of the league’s most elite players. Regardless of what happens, he has already had an impressive career and will go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.
Ultimately, only time will tell if Lonzo Ball can make a successful return from his injury woes and reclaim his spot among basketball’s elite players. Until then, fans around the world will continue to cheer him on as they have since day one.
