History of Lonzo Ball in Timeline

Lonzo Ball is an American professional basketball player, a point guard who most recently played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a consensus first-team All-American at UCLA before being drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA draft. Ball was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018.

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Full Timeline

1992: Lonzo Ball becomes first NCAA Division I player since 1992-93 to achieve certain percentages.

Lonzo Ball became the first NCAA Division I player since 1992-93 to make at least 70 percent from the 2-point range and 40 percent from the 3-point range.

1993: Reference to Jason Kidd's season

In the 1993-94 season, Jason Kidd achieved a similar stat line to Lonzo Ball, averaging at least 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

October 27, 1997: Lonzo Ball's Birth

On October 27, 1997, Lonzo Anderson Ball was born. He would later become a professional basketball player.

1997: Reference to Ahlon Lewis' season

In the 1997-98 season, Ahlon Lewis set a Pac-12 record with 294 assists, surpassing Jason Kidd.

1999: Reference to Steve Francis' performance

In 1999-2000, Steve Francis recorded 17 rebounds as an NBA rookie guard, a mark that Lonzo Ball approached.

2000: Reference to Steve Francis' performance

In 1999-2000, Steve Francis recorded 17 rebounds as an NBA rookie guard, a mark that Lonzo Ball approached.

2008: Named Summer League MVP

During the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Lonzo Ball was named the league MVP. The event also saw the first triple-double since 2008.

2014: Junior year at Chino Hills High School

In 2014-15, as a junior at Chino Hills High School, Lonzo Ball averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 steals.

November 2015: Signed National Letter of Intent with UCLA

In November 2015, Lonzo Ball signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and play for the Bruins.

2015: D'Angelo Russell Trade

In 2015, D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' No. 2 pick, was traded days before Lonzo Ball's arrival, partly to clear the way for the newly drafted point guard.

2016: Rated as a consensus five-star recruit

By the end of his senior year in 2016, Lonzo Ball was rated as a consensus five-star recruit in the 2016 high school class.

2016: Freshman year at UCLA

In 2016, as a freshman at UCLA, Lonzo Ball was named to the preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award.

2016: High School Player of the Year

In 2016, as a senior at Chino Hills High School, Lonzo Ball received multiple national high school player of the year awards and led his team to an undefeated 35-0 record.

February 4, 2017: Game against Washington Huskies

On February 4, 2017, Lonzo Ball scored 22 points in a win against the Washington Huskies, in a game attended by numerous NBA executives scouting him and Markelle Fultz.

May 2017: Big Baller Brand announces the ZO2 shoe

In May 2017, Big Baller Brand announced the release of Lonzo Ball's first shoe, the ZO2, priced at $495, sparking criticism regarding its quality and Ball's star power.

September 2017: Release of first rap single

In September 2017, Lonzo Ball released his first rap single, "Melo Ball 1", and later that month he released the song "ZO2", dedicated to his brand of shoes.

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October 20, 2017: Career-high 29 points against Phoenix Suns

On October 20, 2017, Lonzo Ball scored a then career-high 29 points, along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists, in a win against the Phoenix Suns.

December 20, 2017: Logo for the Junior Basketball Association

On December 20, 2017, Lonzo Ball was announced as the logo for the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league planned by his father LaVar Ball.

2017: Drafted by Los Angeles Lakers

In 2017, Lonzo Ball was drafted by his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers, as the second overall pick.

January 13, 2018: Sprained MCL against Dallas Mavericks

On January 13, 2018, Lonzo Ball sprained the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee against the Dallas Mavericks, sidelining him for several weeks.

February 15, 2018: Debut album and Lip Sync Battle

On February 15, 2018, Lonzo Ball released his debut album, Born 2 Ball, under the name Zo. The same day, he and his father participated in Lip Sync Battle.

April 6, 2018: Jordan Crawford wears ZO2s

On April 6, 2018, Jordan Crawford became the first player besides Lonzo Ball to wear the ZO2 shoes during a game.

July 17, 2018: Underwent Arthroscopic Surgery

On July 17, 2018, Lonzo Ball underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus.

2018: Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team

In 2018, Lonzo Ball was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, recognizing his performance during his first season in the NBA.

January 19, 2019: Ankle Sprain against Rockets

On January 19, 2019, Lonzo Ball recorded a career-high seven assists in a quarter against the Houston Rockets. During the third quarter, he collided with James Ennis III and suffered a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, including a torn ligament, causing him to leave the game with 11 assists in 22 minutes.

March 2019: Cut ties with Alan Foster

In March 2019, Lonzo Ball ended his relationship with Alan Foster, the manager and co-founder of Big Baller Brand, accusing him of misappropriating $1.5 million. Concerns about the quality of BBB shoes and their potential connection to his ankle injuries were also raised.

July 6, 2019: Traded to the New Orleans Pelicans

On July 6, 2019, Lonzo Ball, along with Ingram, Josh Hart, draft rights to De'Andre Hunter, two first-round draft picks, a first-round pick swap, and cash, was traded by the Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis.

January 18, 2020: First Triple-Double of the Season

On January 18, 2020, Lonzo Ball achieved his first triple-double of the season, recording 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, though the Pelicans lost 133-130.

January 29, 2021: Season-High 27 points against the Bucks

On January 29, 2021, Lonzo Ball matched his then career-high of seven three-pointers, and scored a season-high 27 points, in a 131–126 win over the Bucks.

August 8, 2021: Traded to the Chicago Bulls

On August 8, 2021, Lonzo Ball was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal where the Pelicans received Tomáš Satoranský, Garrett Temple, and draft picks. He signed a four-year, $85 million contract extension with the Bulls.

January 20, 2022: Knee surgery announcement

On January 20, 2022, the Bulls announced that Lonzo Ball would undergo surgery on his left knee due to a meniscus tear, expecting him to miss six to eight weeks of play.

2022: Sidelined with knee injury

In 2022, Lonzo Ball was sidelined for the majority of his tenure with the Chicago Bulls due to a persistent knee injury.

February 21, 2023: Ruled out for the remainder of the season

On February 21, 2023, the Bulls announced that Lonzo Ball would miss the remainder of the season due to recurring discomfort in his knee during basketball activities.

March 16, 2023: Cartilage transplant in left knee

On March 16, 2023, Lonzo Ball underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee.

June 2023: Expected to miss the 2023-24 season

In June 2023, Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas stated that the team did not expect Lonzo Ball to be able to play in the 2023-24 season due to his knee injury.

2023: Sidelined with knee injury

In 2023, Lonzo Ball was sidelined for the entirety of the season with the Chicago Bulls due to a persistent knee injury.

July 2024: Cleared for full-contact scrimmages

In July 2024, Lonzo Ball was cleared to participate in full-contact five-on-five scrimmages.

2024: Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers

After the 2024-25 season, Lonzo Ball was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

January 12, 2025: First start in nearly three years

On January 12, 2025, Lonzo Ball made his first start in nearly three years for the Chicago Bulls, scoring 15 points and providing three assists in a 124–119 loss to the Sacramento Kings.