The Cautionary Tale of Lonzo Ball

When the Los Angeles Laker selected Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_NBA_draft" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">2017 NBA Draft</a> ahead of players like Jayson Tatum and De’Aaron Fox the thought was that the Lakers had their point guard of the future. Ball was a highly touted recruit out of Chino Hills, California and had an <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lonzo-ball-1.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">excellent freshman season at UCLA</a> where he was selected as an All-American before declaring for the Draft. Fast forward to today, and Ball is on his third team with fears that his injury history might force him into <a href="https://hypebeast.com/2023/5/chicago-bulls-think-lonzo-ball-not-play-again-retire-rumors" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">retirement at the age of 25</a>. After missing over a season and a half after signing a free agency deal with the Chicago Bulls, it is hard not to feel sorry for Lonzo. A cautionary tale of a young man trying to help his family out with poor investments and a <a href="https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/news/lakers-blame-lonzo-balls-sneakers-for-injuries#:~:text=in%20addition%20to%20fulfillment%20issues%2C%20the%20shoes%20fell%20apart%20on%20the%20court.%20during%20a%202019%20interview%20on%20new%20york%20knicks%20guard%20josh%20hart's%20podcast%2C%20ball%20joked%20about%20his%20shoes%20falling%20apart%20during%20the%20nba%20summer%20league%20before%20his%20rookie%20season.%20%22In%20addition%20to%20fulfillment%20issues,%20the%20shoes%20fell%20apart%20on%20the%20court.%20During%20a%C2%A02019%20interview%20on%20New%20York%20Knicks%20guard%20Josh%20Hart's%20podcast,%20Ball%20joked%20about%20his%20shoes%20falling%20apart%20during%20the%20NBA%20Summer%20League%20before%20his%20rookie%20season.%22" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">failed sneaker company in the Big Baller Brand</a>. His story is one that reminds us of the fragile gift that is an NBA contract and the difficulties of starting a business in an established market. <a href="https://omarzahran.medium.com/the-cautionary-tale-of-lonzo-ball-743d6c092004">Learn More</a>