Lonzo Ball Denies NBA Retirement Talk After Opening Up About His Knee Injuries

Candid Comments on His Health

NBA free agent Lonzo Ball opened up on the latest episode of the "Ball In the Family" podcast (around the 54-minute mark) about the toll nine seasons in the league have taken on his body. "I feel like I gave everything I had to hoop, and I feel like everything I got in my life is because of hoop. I'm grateful to even make it to the league and be able to play for nine years," he said.

Ball explained that he has to "manage" pain in his knee every day, noting it swelled up recently while he was playing. A routine of yoga, stretching and ice lets him function, though he said the pain never fully goes away. He described at times feeling like he was "playing on stilts" because he can no longer stop quickly without aggravating the joint.

Retirement Speculation

The comments fueled widespread speculation that Ball might be ready to call it a career. He pushed back on that idea, confirming in a post on X that he is still ready for his next opportunity and, as reported by Sportsnaut/HoopsHype, saying he is "still waiting for a call" from an NBA team.

A Long History of Knee Trouble

Ball, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, first ran into knee issues as a rookie when he sprained his MCL. He had arthroscopic meniscus surgery in July 2018 but returned for the start of the following season, only for an ankle injury to end that campaign early after 47 games. Traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis deal, Ball had arguably the best stretch of his career there, averaging 13.1 points, 6.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game on 37.6 percent three-point shooting over 118 appearances.

In 2021, Ball signed with the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade, but a torn meniscus early that season began a steep decline. Persistent knee problems forced him to sit out both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023 after his meniscus was essentially gone and his knee was described as "bone on bone." He returned to action with the Bulls in 2024-25, though with limited playing time, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in July 2025. He appeared in 35 of Cleveland's first 51 games, averaging 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals, before being dealt to the Utah Jazz in February. The Jazz waived him before he played a single game for the team.

Ball remains a free agent, with little indication so far that any team is close to signing him.