Lonzo Ball has not retired from the NBA. The Utah Jazz acquired him by trade on 5 February 2026 and waived him the same day, and he has been an unsigned free agent since. He denied retirement reports on 23 September 2026, saying he was still waiting for a call.
Did Lonzo Ball Retire From the NBA?
No. Ball never announced a retirement, and he rejected the reports that said he had.
On 23 September 2026, after several outlets published that he had retired at 28, Ball wrote on X: “I retired? News to me lol cuz I’m still waiting for a call… NBA season long”. No retirement statement has come from Ball, his representatives or any team.
Ball is 28, born on 27 October 1997. He was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, taken by the Los Angeles Lakers, and has since played for the New Orleans Pelicans, the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Where Did the Retirement Story Come From?
A podcast appearance in which Ball discussed his career in the past tense was read as an exit announcement.
Speaking on the Ball in the Family podcast in an episode that circulated on 23 September 2026, Ball described what the knee injuries took from him: “Your game changes. You see where you’re supposed to be and you physically can’t get there.” He said he did not think he ever reached his peak.
He also summed up his career gratefully: “I feel like I gave everything I had to hoop and I feel like everything I got in my life is because of hoop.” Clips spread, some outlets reported a retirement as fact, and Ball corrected them within hours. Both versions remain online, which is why a search today returns headlines that contradict each other.
What Is Lonzo Ball’s Status as of 25 September 2026?
He is a free agent with no team, and no signing has been reported.
Ball has been without a contract since 5 February 2026, a run of more than seven months. The 2026-27 NBA regular season opens on Tuesday 20 October 2026, leaving under four weeks before opening night, although free agents can join a roster at any point during a season.
Being unsigned is not the same as being retired. A player who is finished normally says so directly, the way Otto Porter Jr. did after 11 NBA seasons. Ball has made no such announcement and has said the opposite.
Why Has No Team Signed Him?
His most recent season was his least productive, and the knee is the reason teams hesitate.
With Cleveland in 2025-26, Ball averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists across 35 games, shooting 30.1 percent from the field. The season before, with Chicago, he played 35 games and averaged 7.6 points.
Across his career he has played 322 regular-season games, averaging 10.6 points, 5.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds. Those games cover seven seasons, not nine: he was drafted in 2017 but missed two full campaigns. Readers ask a version of this same question about other NBA veterans who slip off the radar.
How the Knee Injuries Reshaped His Career
A meniscus tear in January 2022 cost him two and a half seasons and a cartilage transplant.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 20 January 2022 | Tears the meniscus in his left knee while with the Chicago Bulls |
| 2022-23 season | Does not appear in a single game |
| March 2023 | Undergoes a cartilage transplant; his knee is described as bone on bone |
| 2023-24 season | Does not appear in a single game |
| 2024-25 season | Returns to the floor, playing 35 games for Chicago |
| 6 July 2025 | Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro |
| 5 February 2026 | Traded to the Utah Jazz and waived the same day |
The transplant was unusual for a professional athlete, and Ball has said he manages daily knee pain with yoga, stretching and ice.
What His Contracts Paid, and Why Cleveland Moved Him
Ball earned $10 million in 2025-26, and that salary is what made him a trade candidate.
He joined the Bulls through a sign-and-trade in August 2021 on a four-year contract worth about $85 million. In February 2025 he and Chicago agreed a two-year extension worth about $20 million, which is what he was being paid in Cleveland.
The February 2026 trade was a payroll decision as much as a basketball one. Cleveland had just added James Harden and Dennis Schroder in separate deals and sat above the NBA’s second apron, set at $207.824 million for 2025-26. Moving Ball’s $10 million helped bring the Cavaliers under that line. Utah took Ball and two second-round picks, sent centre Jock Landale to the Atlanta Hawks, and released Ball before he played a minute in a Jazz uniform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Lonzo Ball Officially Announce His Retirement?
No. There is no retirement announcement from Ball or any team. He publicly corrected the reports on 23 September 2026, the same day they appeared.
What Team Is Lonzo Ball On in 2026?
None. He has been a free agent since the Utah Jazz waived him on 5 February 2026, hours after acquiring him from Cleveland.
Why Did Lonzo Ball Miss Two Full NBA Seasons?
A torn meniscus in January 2022 led to a cartilage transplant in March 2023. He did not play at all in 2022-23 or 2023-24, returning in the 2024-25 season.
How Old Is Lonzo Ball, and How Many NBA Games Has He Played?
He turns 29 on 27 October 2026. He has appeared in 322 regular-season games across seven seasons since being drafted second overall in 2017.
Can Lonzo Ball Still Sign With an NBA Team?
Yes. He is an unsigned free agent and can be added to a roster at any point, including after the 2026-27 season opens on 20 October 2026.
