Lonzo Ball entered the NBA with enormous expectations, only to watch injuries completely alter the path of his career. They didn't just take away some of Ball's athleticism, but they also made him question whether he could still do things on the court that once came naturally.
The mental battle was perhaps the hardest part, as Lonzo explained that after games, he would constantly find himself questioning whether he should even be on the floor when basic movements no longer felt reliable.
"It's so hard to bounce back," Ball said on his podcast. "That's the weird s–t about it, somebody will watch you and be like, 'Ah, he's fine.' But it's like certain s–t I literally can't do no more. I have full-blown layups f—ked up on the Bulls; we don't know what's about to happen. I'm like, 'Should I really be out there?'"
Lonzo's injury nightmare began in January 2022, when he tore the meniscus in his left knee while averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals for Chicago .
What was initially expected to be a relatively short absence turned into a multi-year ordeal. Ball underwent multiple procedures before eventually requiring a major cartilage transplant.
Those setbacks caused him to miss his prime years — the entirety of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NBA seasons.
Then came the moment that had once seemed almost impossible. Ball returned to the NBA hardwood in October 2024, after a 1,013-day absence. After spending two and a half years away from the game, the hype around seeing him do well flared, and many expected Lonzo to return to his earlier self to help the Bulls secure a playoff spot.
However, that was far from the case that happened.
After such a prolonged absence and extensive knee reconstruction, he looked like a shadow of himself, unable to match his teammates' speed, failing to get past defenders, and showing evident hesitation in pulling off bold moves.
And even though the Bulls signed him to an extension, they became unsure of his potential and thus traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers that same year.
Even with the Cavs, Lonzo had quality big men like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to maximize his playmaking, yet, coming off the bench, he looked lackluster. He averaged 4.6 points over 35 appearances before he was moved again, this time to Utah (where he was subsequently waived).
So, in a relatively short period, Lonzo went from a key piece on a playoff-contender to someone who was considered a high-risk, low-output asset.
Related: NBA announces star-studded lineup to headline the NBA House in Macao 2026
The frustration of losing pieces of his game clearly affected Lonzo.
Even though he had the desire to play at a high rate, his body simply couldn't adhere to the physical tasks. However, it was only when Lonzo changed his viewpoint and stopped comparing himself to "what-could-have-been" his ceiling that he began to feel satisfied.
After all, he earned over $120 million in less than a decade in the NBA and that made him accept his career and fate.
"It takes the joy out, like, your game changes. You see where you're supposed to be and you physically can't get there. You got to be comfortable with your ownself. To be honest, I don't think I ever got to my peak," Ball added. "It's like, Damn, that s–t sucks. But at the same time it's a lot of people that don't have meals to eat-type s–t."
Given that he has transitioned into the media space and seems content to share his opinions, it looks like Zo is finally at peace.
Related: Lonzo Ball explained why LaVar isn't as loud publicly as he used to be
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Sep 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
