Lonzo Ball's journey in the NBA has taken another unexpected turn as he was waived by the Utah Jazz, making him a free agent. While the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets have been mentioned as potential landing spots, neither team has made a move yet. Despite the challenges, Ball remains resilient, expressing on the "Ball in the Family" podcast that he's being unfairly labeled as the "scapegoat" for his team's struggles.
“I don’t feel like I’m playing as bad as people are saying. I’m the scapegoat right now, but that comes with the name, and that’s what they brought me in for.
I’m not gonna say I’m playing great, but, to me, I’m just missing shots,” Ball explained. He further broke down the criticism of his shooting percentage, noting, “People are like, ‘Oh, he’s shooting 25%,’ and it’s like, let’s take those percentages and talk about what that is.
That’s four shots a game, and I’m making one. Shitty, but I promise we’re not winning or losing games based on four shots.”
Ball's recent career path has been anything but smooth. After being traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, he faced a tough 35-game stretch plagued by injuries and shooting woes. This led to another trade to Utah, where stability again eluded him.
Lonzo's NBA story began with high expectations when the Los Angeles Lakers selected him second overall in the 2017 Draft. His early seasons showed promise, and his performance blossomed with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he posted career highs with 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in his second season. However, his time with the Bulls was marred by recurring injuries, which ultimately hindered his productivity and cast doubt on his long-term potential.
Even former NBA star Jeff Teague has weighed in with criticism, highlighting the challenges Ball faces in overcoming perceptions about his game. Despite the setbacks, Ball’s determination to prove himself remains unwavering, and his next move could be pivotal in redefining his career trajectory.