How Lonzo Ball could revive career in NBL

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Seven years after LaMelo Ball created history by becoming the youngest player to record an NBL triple-double, his older brother Lonzo is a free agent who could be lured Down Under.

Lonzo, 28, is now an unsigned free agent, and his NBA career is in jeopardy. He was traded by Josh Giddey's Bulls to Tyrese Proctor's Cleveland Cavaliers before the start of the 2025-26 season but played just 35 games before being sent to the Utah Jazz before the 2026 trade deadline.

Clutch Points Brett Siegel reports today: “When Lonzo Ball was traded to the Utah Jazz and immediately waived upon arrival, several playoff teams began gathering his medical information and contacting him. The Golden State Warriors held strong interest in Ball, as did the Nuggets, sources said.”

“However, no deal ever materialised for Ball with the Warriors or Nuggets due to concerns both organisations had with his overall knee health. Although Ball played in 35 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season before being traded, many league personnel are concerned that the former second-overall pick may not play again due to issues with his medical records.

“Ball remains unsigned and available on the open market. It is worth noting that Denver and Golden State were not the only organisations to express interest in him.

“Nothing is imminent on this front, and Ball will continue to work on strengthening his game and health as he waits for another opportunity. Should he remain unsigned through the remainder of this season and want to continue his playing career, Lonzo may be forced to do so overseas.”

His younger brother, LaMelo, joined the Illawarra Hawks as an NBL Next Star for NBL20 at just 18 and 94 days old, dropped 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists on the Cairns Taipans on November 25, 2019.

Five days later, he did it again with a 25-point, 12 rebounds and 10-assists performance against the New Zealand Breakers.

Lonzo was taken with the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers but has played just 322 games in a nine-season career. He’s missed almost 400 eligible games, including two full seasons with a knee injury.

Lonzo came into the NBA with a reputation as a high-IQ point guard but struggled with injuries almost immediately. Speculation is that his signature shoes — Big Baller Brand — contributed to his injury problems. Ball suffered a first serious meniscus tear in January 2018 while wearing the brand, as reports emerged that his shoes were not ready for professional play, often falling apart during games.

Ball switched to Nike Kobes after his return, but it appears the damage had already been done.

But now Lonzo’s unsigned and only attracting limited interest, the NBL becomes a possibility given the reduced load over a longer period of time. NBL teams play 33 games in about 165 days, far less than the 82 games of the NBA regular season in eight months.

Lonzo doesn’t need the money; he’s earned more than USD $120M, he just needs to play, and given the Ball’s already established connection to Australia, he becomes a legitimate target for an NBL club in need of an elite professional that can still play at a high level if he can get healthy enough to compete twice a week.

Both Illawarra and Perth are in need of a point guard, but maybe, just maybe, the Ball might be rolled out in the ‘Gong in NBL27 ... and how good would that be!

Lonzo Ball Career Earnings Overview

Total Career Earnings (through 2025): USD $122,926,665

Salary Progression

• Rookie Scale (2017–2020): Earned approximately USD $32.9 million over his first four seasons.
• Second Contract Jump (2021–2024): Signed a major deal that paid him over USD $80 million across four seasons. His salary peaked about USD $21.3 million annually.
• 2025 Adjustment Year: Retained salary structure following injury absence, maintaining cumulative earnings at nearly $123 million.

Team Breakdown

Los Angeles Lakers (2017–19)

• 99 games
• 10.0 ppg │ 6.2 rpg │ 6.4 apg
• Shooting: .380 FG │ .315 3PT

New Orleans Pelicans (2019–21)

• 118 games
• 13.1 ppg │ 5.5 rpg │ 6.4 apg
• Shooting: .409 FG │ .376 3PT

Chicago Bulls (2021–22, 2024–25)

• 70 games
• 10.3 ppg │ 4.4 rpg │ 4.2 apg
• Shooting: .401 FG │ .389 3PT

Cleveland Cavaliers (2025–26)

• 35 games
• 4.6 ppg │ 4.0 rpg │ 3.9 apg
• Shooting: .301 FG │ .272 3PT

Estimated Games Missed by Body Part

Knee – ~246 games

• 2017–18 minor knee issues (short-term)
• 2021–22 meniscus injury (last played Jan 14, 2022)
• Missed entire 2022–23 season (82 games)
• Missed entire 2023–24 season (82 games)
• Ongoing management 2024–25

Primary career-impact injury.

• Ankle – ~20 games
• Wrist – ~12 games
• Hip – ~10 games
• Adductor – ~6 games
• Quadriceps – ~5 games
• Thumb – ~8 games
• Illness / Protocols / Head – ~7 games
• Rest / Injury Management – ~15 games