Lonzo Ball is not going to retire from basketball just yet. Following his recent honest appearance on a podcast, where he spoke about his prolonged struggle with knee injuries and which had caused a great deal of speculation regarding his retirement, the former No. 2 overall choice turned to social media to clarify the matter: he is still a free agent and is open to having another go at an NBA career.
What Sparked the Retirement Buzz?
In the most recent episode of the Ball In the Family podcast, Ball expressed some emotional reflections on his nine-year career in the NBA, stating that he has “given everything” to the game and that his current life is a result of it. He outlined the everyday situation of dealing with chronic knee pain—experiencing swelling after playing, and having to depend on yoga, stretching and ice in order to carry on, as well as at times feeling as if he is “playing on stilts” since he cannot stop or change direction quickly without worsening the joint.
Some media outlets and fans soon saw those comments as a statement announcing his retirement. In reply Ball posted directly on X: “I retired? That’s news to me lol since I’m still waiting for a call… over the course of the NBA season.” The post showed that he thinks he is still capable of contributing and that he is currently looking for a team.
A Career Defined by Ups and Downs
Early Promise With the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Ball second overall in 2017, and from the beginning he displayed great promise as a versatile, high-IQ guard with outstanding passing and defensive abilities. Trouble with his knee started during his first year when he suffered an MCL sprain, and then in 2018 he had meniscus surgery. He played in 47 games during the 2018–19 season before his sophomore campaign was ended by an ankle injury.
Finding Consistency in New Orleans
His best and most consistent performance was in New Orleans, where he averaged 13.1 points, 6.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds over 118 games and shot 37.6% from three-point range.
A Prolonged Injury Setback in Chicago
In 2021 he joined the Chicago Bulls, but a torn meniscus at the beginning of that season signaled the start of a long period away from the game. He missed the whole of the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons and had a rare meniscus and cartilage transplant in March 2023 after his knee had worn down to the point of being ‘bone on bone’.
Returning to the NBA With Chicago and Cleveland
He came back for the 2024-25 season, playing in 35 games for Chicago before being traded to Cleveland during the middle of the season. With the Cavaliers he took part in 35 of their first 51 games and averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals.
Released by Utah and Still a Free Agent
In February 2026 he was sent to Utah as part of a multi-team transaction and was then released without playing in any game for the Jazz. He is still an unrestricted free agent.
The Physical Reality: Managing Pain Every Day
The comments that Ball made on his podcast brought out the hard work involved in any possibility of a comeback. He admitted that his knee continues to swell after matches and that he has to ice it, stretch and do yoga regularly just in order to remain playable.
Even so, he stated that “it’s still gonna hurt” and that sudden stops are still a big difficulty. It is for this honest evaluation that some people thought he was retiring—yet Ball maintains that he is willing to cope with those limitations if a club thinks he can be of use.
What Lies Ahead for Ball?
Availability and Potential Role
At this point the success of Ball’s career will probably come down to two things: whether he can remain available for a significant period and what role he can play. Since he is in good health, he provides interchangeable defensive coverage, pace control and minimal playing in the playmaking department—assets for a team that needs a reliable player from the bench.
Concerns Over His Injury History
However, because of his long injury record and the fact that he has only played in 70 games during the past two seasons, clubs will take a cautious approach.
Lonzo Ball Is Still Waiting for an NBA Call
At the moment, Ball’s message is straightforward: he has not retired, he is ready, and he is waiting for the phone to ring. It will be up to whether or not that call comes during the 2026–27 season to decide the final chapter of a career that has been just as resilient as it has been interrupted.
