Lonzo Ball isn’t retiring, but he admits the knee injury that cost him more than 1,000 days changed both his game and how he views his NBA career.
Speaking with Gilbert Arenas on Tuesday’s Ball in the Family podcast, Ball got unusually reflective about life after multiple left knee surgeries.
“I don’t think I ever got to my peak,” Ball said. “And it’s like, damn, that s–t sucks.”
Ball was thriving before the injury. After signing a four-year, $85 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, he helped the team race to a 27-13 record through its first 40 games. Then came the knee issue that was originally expected to sideline him for six weeks but the complications led to more procedures and two full seasons away from basketball.
Ball eventually returned during the 2024-25 season, but he told Arenas his knee remains something he has to manage constantly.
“I can play if I want to, but still got to deal with it every day,” he said.
Ball explained that certain movements still feel natural, while others leave him off balance, and he also said he has lost some of his ability to stop suddenly while attacking the basket.
“I feel like I gave everything I had to hoop,” said Ball. “Everything I got in my life is because of hoop.”
Ball shut down rumors that he had retired from the sport, saying he is “still waiting for a call.”
