Lonzo Ball sounded reflective about his basketball career. He says he wasn’t announcing its end.
The free-agent guard pushed back Wednesday after comments from a podcast appearance sparked retirement speculation.
“I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long,” Ball wrote on X.
In a clip that circulated earlier, Ball said he had given everything he had to basketball and was grateful for what the game had given him. He also said he never felt he reached his peak. Heard on its own, it sounded like a farewell. Ball’s response made his intention clear.
Whether an NBA team makes that call is another question. The Cavaliers acquired Ball from the Bulls last summer, hoping he could help their backcourt. He averaged 4.6 points in 20.8 minutes per game before Cleveland traded him to the Jazz in February. Utah waived him, and he has remained unsigned.
Ball’s knee problems cost him two full seasons before he returned with Chicago in 2024-25. His time with the Cavs didn’t go as he had hoped, either.
He understands why people might wonder what comes next. He’d just prefer to answer that question himself, and his answer is that he still wants to play.
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