Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball's Biography

Lonzo Anderson Ball, born October 27, 1997, is an established American professional basketball player representing the team, the Chicago Bulls, in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely known as a point guard, his journey as a basketball player started in his college years at UCLA Bruins, and it wasn’t long before his resounding talents had him recruited by Los Angeles Lakers as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Throughout his school years, Lonzo’s athletic abilities had shone brightly. Being a 6-foot-6 basketball enthusiast from his toddler years, he rose to prominence in his senior year at Chino Hills High School in 2016. With national player of the year honours attached to his name and his team undefeated under his leadership, Ball’s prowess was rising rapidly. His younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, were also a part of this winning team.

During his freshman year in 2016-17 at UCLA Bruins, his performance was nothing short of exceptional. Setting a new record for the most assists in a season and leading the nation in the same category, he gained widespread recognition. Acknowledging the young player’s substantial contributions, he was awarded the Wayman Tisdale Award as the top freshman in the nation.

With an impressive college and school track record, Ball’s entry into NBA was thrilling. Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as an NBA rookie, his time was unfortunately conflicted with multiple injuries that slowed down his pace. His shoulder and knee injuries confined his playing time, leaving him sidelined for a significant part of his second season due to an ankle injury.

Following this tumultuous period, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a deal for Anthony Davis. His two-season time with the Pelicans was also thwarted due to persistent knee injuries, which resulted in his absence from the majority of matches during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

His move to the Chicago Bulls marked a new chapter in his basketball journey, which had been largely developed under the guidance of his parents, LaVar and Tina Ball, both former college basketball players. Lonzo showed immense interest and talent towards the sport from a young age, considering NBA star LeBron James as his idol.

His school years in Chino Hills High School saw him average 25 points, 11 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 steals during his junior year in 2014-15. Moving onward to his senior year, he achieved a triple-double with averages of 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game. His talent did not go unrecognized, earning him esteemed national titles including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, USA Today Boys Basketball Player of the Year, and Mr. Basketball USA.

After being rated as a consensus five-star recruit in the 2016 high school class, Ball signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and play for the Bruins. His freshman year in college showed impressive performances, including leading UCLA’s rise up the national rankings and transforming the Bruins into the top scoring offense in the country.

After a successful college career, Ball declared himself for the 2017 NBA draft. He was formally selected with the second overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft by his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though his debut years in the NBA were marred by injuries, he did not fail to make his mark.

He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018. He underwent knee surgery in July 2018 after being diagnosed with a torn meniscus. Additions to his team, especially the signing of LeBron James and point guard Rajon Rondo, impacted his time on the court but did not deter his game.

Despite various challenges and setbacks due to injuries, Ball’s determination and skills continue to make him a prominent name in the world of professional basketball.