Ball is happy to be in The Land.
Lonzo Ball isn’t taking any opportunity for granted. He called his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers a ‘blessing’ in a recent episode of his podcast What An Experience with Lonzo Ball.
“I felt like it’s just a blessing, bro, to be honest,” said Ball. “I’m f—king going to a great situation, and I just want to, you know, play my role and do what I can to help.”
The Cavs won 64 games last season and check in as one of the early favorites to win the Eastern Conference despite their disappointing second-round exit in May. Ball is expected to be a key piece to their upcoming season.
“S—t, just playing, competing for a ring. I mean, I feel like that should be the goal,”
said Ball. “I’m happy to still be playing anywhere, let alone a team that has a real chance to, you know, win a ring.”
Ball missed two consecutive seasons with a knee injury. It wasn’t until a Hail Mary medical procedure, which included transplanting cartilage from a donor, that he was finally able to return. Ball is the first NBA player to attempt this surgery.
Making it back after all of that is something special. Now, moving from a Play-In team to a bona fide title contender, Ball feels like this is his time.
“So my whole life, I’ve been, you know, playing, I feel like the right brand of basketball, and that’s to win games,” said Ball.
The Cavs traded for Ball because they believe in him as a winner. His playmaking and defensive skills as a 6’6” point guard will give them a new dynamic to compete with. If all goes right, Ball has a chance to complete one of the best comeback stories in sports.