Lonzo Ball is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls. He played college basketball for UCLA, earning All-American honors and was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018.
1992: Historic Shooting Efficiency
Lonzo Ball's shooting efficiency in the 1991-1992 season was nothing short of historic. He became the first NCAA Division I player since that season to achieve a remarkable 70% from 2-point range and 40% from 3-point range.
1993: Matching Jason Kidd's Legacy
Lonzo Ball's performance in the 1992-1993 season drew comparisons to California's Jason Kidd, showcasing his ability to impact the game with scoring, assists, and rebounds.
October 27, 1997: Birth of Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Anderson Ball was born on October 27, 1997. This marks the beginning of his journey to becoming a professional basketball player.
1997: Surpassing Assist Records
Lonzo Ball's exceptional passing skills were evident in the 1996-1997 season when he broke assist records, surpassing even the impressive numbers set by Ahlon Lewis of Arizona State.
2008: Summer League MVP and Record-Breaking Performance
Lonzo Ball's exceptional performance in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earned him the MVP title and set a new record for triple-doubles in the league's history.
2014: Impressive High School Performance as a Junior
Lonzo Ball demonstrated exceptional skills in his junior year (2014-2015) at Chino Hills High School, averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 steals per game.
November 2015: Commitment to UCLA
In November 2015, Lonzo Ball made a significant decision for his basketball career by signing a National Letter of Intent to play for the UCLA Bruins.
2015: Lakers' Roster Changes
In 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers made strategic roster changes, including the trade of D'Angelo Russell, to make way for their newly drafted point guard, Lonzo Ball.
2016: Undefeated High School Season and National Recognition
Lonzo Ball, alongside his brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, led Chino Hills High School to an undefeated 35-0 record in 2016, earning national recognition and player of the year awards.
2016: John R. Wooden Award Watch List
Lonzo Ball's talent was evident as he was named to the prestigious John R. Wooden Award watch list in 2016, a testament to his potential as a top college player.
2016: Top-Ranked Recruit
Lonzo Ball's exceptional skills and performance in high school earned him recognition as a top-ranked recruit in the 2016 high school class, ranking high on both Rivals.com and ESPN.
February 4, 2017: Matchup against Markelle Fultz
On February 4, 2017, Lonzo Ball and the UCLA Bruins faced off against Markelle Fultz and the Washington Huskies, marking a high-profile matchup between two of the nation's top point guards.
February 2017: Mother Suffers a Stroke
Lonzo Ball's mother, Tina Ball, experienced a stroke in February 2017 and required hospitalization for two months.
May 2017: Big Baller Brand Releases ZO2 Shoes
Big Baller Brand, owned by Lonzo Ball's family, released his first signature shoe, the ZO2, in May 2017. The shoe's high price tag of $495 drew criticism and sparked debate about its quality and Ball's marketability.
September 2017: Releases First Rap Single, "Melo Ball 1"
Lonzo Ball ventured into the music scene with the release of his first rap single, "Melo Ball 1," a tribute to his younger brother, LaMelo, in September 2017.
October 20, 2017: Lonzo Ball's Near Triple-Double Performance
On October 20, 2017, Lonzo Ball nearly achieved a triple-double in just his second NBA game, scoring a then career-high 29 points, along with 11 rebounds and nine assists. This impressive performance came in a 132-130 win against the Phoenix Suns.
December 20, 2017: Becomes Logo for Junior Basketball Association
On December 20, 2017, Lonzo Ball was announced as the logo for the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league founded by his father as an alternative to the NCAA for high school basketball players.
2017: Drafted to the NBA
In 2017, Lonzo Ball was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the second overall pick, marking the start of his professional basketball career.
2017: Joining the Los Angeles Lakers
The year 2017 marked a significant turning point in Lonzo Ball's career as he was drafted by his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside Brandon Ingram, forming a promising young core for the team.
January 13, 2018: Lonzo Ball's Knee Injury
On January 13, 2018, Lonzo Ball sprained the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee during a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Initially expected to be sidelined for one to three weeks, this injury ultimately caused him to miss several games and withdraw from the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.
February 15, 2018: Releases Debut Album, "Born 2 Ball"
Lonzo Ball released his debut rap album, "Born 2 Ball," under the name Zo on February 15, 2018. The album was released under the Big Baller Music Group, a subsidiary of Big Baller Brand.
April 6, 2018: Jordan Crawford Debuts ZO2 Shoes
On April 6, 2018, Jordan Crawford became the first NBA player other than Lonzo Ball to wear the ZO2 shoes during a game.
July 17, 2018: Lonzo Ball Undergoes Knee Surgery
Lonzo Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on July 17, 2018, to address a torn meniscus. This procedure aimed to repair the injury and ensure his readiness for the upcoming season.
2018: Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Lonzo Ball was recognized for his performance as a rookie and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018.
January 19, 2019: Lonzo Ball's Ankle Injury
Lonzo Ball suffered a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, including a torn ligament, after a collision with James Ennis III of the Houston Rockets during a game on January 19, 2019. Despite having a strong performance up until the injury, this setback would ultimately sideline him for the rest of the season.
March 2019: Cuts Ties with Big Baller Brand Manager
In March 2019, Lonzo Ball publicly severed ties with Alan Foster, co-founder and manager of Big Baller Brand, alleging financial impropriety and the misappropriation of funds. This event raised concerns about the brand's future.
July 6, 2019: Lonzo Ball Traded to New Orleans Pelicans
In a major trade on July 6, 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and other assets to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for All-Star player Anthony Davis.
January 18, 2020: Lonzo Ball's First Triple-Double of the Season
Lonzo Ball recorded his first triple-double of the 2019-2020 season on January 18, 2020, achieving 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a hard-fought game against the Los Angeles Clippers, despite the 133-130 loss.
2020: Appears on "The Masked Singer"
Lonzo Ball participated in the fourth season of the singing competition show "The Masked Singer" in 2020, performing as "Whatchamacallit" and being eliminated in Week 8.
2020: Adopts a More Conventional Shooting Form
Lonzo Ball, who was known for his unorthodox jump shot, adopted a more conventional shooting form ahead of the 2020–21 NBA season. This change resulted in a career-high 3-point shooting percentage.
January 29, 2021: Lonzo Ball's Career-High in Three-Pointers
On January 29, 2021, Lonzo Ball showcased his improved shooting by tying his then career-high of seven three-pointers, contributing to a season-high 27 points and securing a 131-126 victory over the Milwaukee 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 with the New Orleans Pelicans.
January 20, 2022: Undergoes Surgery for Meniscus Tear
After missing three games due to a meniscus tear, the Chicago Bulls announced on January 20, 2022, that Lonzo Ball would undergo surgery on his left knee. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks.
2022: Undergoes Arthroscopic Debridement
Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Lonzo Ball underwent arthroscopic debridement, a surgical procedure to remove loose material from the knee joint and smooth its surfaces.
2022: Sidelined by Knee Injury
Lonzo Ball's career was hampered by a persistent knee injury in 2022, causing him to miss a significant portion of his tenure with the Chicago Bulls.
February 21, 2023: Ruled out for the Remainder of the 2022-2023 Season
On February 21, 2023, the Chicago Bulls announced that Lonzo Ball would be out for the remainder of the 2022–23 season due to ongoing discomfort experienced during basketball activities.
March 16, 2023: Undergoes Cartilage Transplant Surgery
Lonzo Ball underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee on March 16, 2023.
June 2023: Uncertainty About Future Play
In June 2023, Chicago Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas expressed uncertainty about Lonzo Ball's ability to play in the 2023–24 season.
2023: Missed Seasons Due to Knee Injury
Lonzo Ball's knee injury continued to affect his career, causing him to miss the entirety of the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 NBA seasons.
January 2024: Expected to Resume Running
In December 2023, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Lonzo Ball was expected to start running again in January 2024.