CLEVELAND — Lonzo Ball says Cleveland fans made him the “scapegoat” after he was traded this NBA season.
“I know I’m the scapegoat right now but that comes with the name, though,” Ball said during Tuesday’s “Ball In The Family” podcast.
The 28‑year‑old guard spoke about his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and how things ended for him. Ball said fans and critics focused too much on his shooting struggles. He told listeners on the podcast that being blamed this way comes with the job.
Ball joined the Cavaliers last summer in a trade from the Chicago Bulls. The team brought him in to help with scoring and playmaking. But he did not meet the expectations many had for him.
Ball’s shooting numbers this season were among the lowest of his career. He shot about 30% from the field and 27% from 3‑point range with the Cavaliers.
Critics pointed to his low shooting numbers and blamed him for the team’s early struggles. Ball said that though he missed shots, it didn’t mean he was the reason his team lost games.
Ball said he understands that his shooting numbers were not good, but he pushed back on the idea that he played “terrible.” He said his missed shots were minimal—only a few per game and that people were focusing on the wrong things.
Cleveland traded Ball to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 5, before the NBA deadline. Utah waived him soon after, which made Ball a free agent. He is now looking for another team to sign him before the season ends.