Lonzo Ball Rejects Criticism, Calls Himself a Scapegoat Despite Career-Worst Shooting
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Free-agent guard Lonzo Ball said on his podcast this week that he believes he has been made a “scapegoat” for his recent struggles, arguing that his performance was not as poor as critics claim.
The statistics from his 2023-24 campaign tell a different story. Ball shot 30.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from three-point range, the lowest marks of his career. He also converted just 66.7 percent of his limited free-throw attempts.
Cleveland traded Ball in a salary-dump deal during the season, and he was subsequently waived by Utah, leaving him without a roster spot. Before his release, he averaged 3.9 assists per game for the Cavaliers, production that failed to offset his shooting woes.
Despite Ball’s departure, Cleveland continued to win, while rookie guard Craig Porter Jr. emerged as a reliable backup point guard, further reducing any on-court void Ball might have left.
Ball, 26, remains unsigned as the offseason approaches, with his future hinging on whether teams believe he can rebound from a season of historically poor shooting.
Source: Hoops Wire
