Lonzo Ball's Daughter Zoey Turned Him from 'Boy to Father'
Lonzo Ball was only 21 when he welcomed his daughter, Zoey, during a previous relationship. And in a heartfelt Instagram post in honor of her birthday, the basketball player revealed that his daughter helped him mature from being a boy to a man to a father.
Born on October 27, 1997, Lonzo Anderson Ball is one of three Ball brothers who pursued a career as a professional basketball player. He was one to watch during high school but had hot and cold seasons after the Los Angeles Lakers selected him as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Despite a career marked by injuries, his talent shone brightly during the 2020-2021 season. After his remarkable performance that season, he became a sought-after free agent and signed a four-year 85 million dollar deal with the Chicago Bulls.
Lonzo's knee injuries eventually caught up to him. Not only has he not touched a basketball since January 2022, but the point guard recently underwent his third surgical procedure on his left knee in the past 14 months and was ruled out of the 2023-24 season NBA season.
However, while he prepares to return to the basketball court, he has spent time with his new girlfriend and daughter, who inspired his recent charitable endeavor.
Lonzo Ball's Daughter Was Born in 2018
During an episode of his family's reality television show, "Ball In the Family," Lonzo and the mother of his child, Denise Garcia, gave viewers a glimpse at the intimate moments leading up to and including their daughter's birth.
The episode begins with a recap of the previous episode, which captured Denise telling Lonzo that she thought her water had broken and that they needed to go to the hospital.
After she was induced, Denise humorously revealed that her labor and birth were "light work" and that the process had been much easier than expected.
Denise Garcia and Zoey Ball during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons on January 9, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
In the hospital room, the new parents savored the precious moment of meeting their daughter, Zoey, for the first time on July 22, 2018. While speaking about Zoey, Lonzo said:
"You just see her, and you just always want to make sure she's taken care of."
As Lonzo's family was out of town during Zoey's birth, he and Denise spent their first few days as new parents at her mother's house. And the camera crew documented the point guard and his partner enduring the sleepless nights that came with the early stages of parenthood.
"It's been a big adjustment having the baby here now," Denise shared during a confessional. Toward the end of the episode, Lonzo's younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, finally meet their niece, with LaMelo teasing that Zoey had inherited her father's ears and her mother's nose.
"Holding Zoey for the first time—it was crazy just looking at her. It's a trip that Lonzo's a dad now..." LaMelo said. As the episode drew close, some members of the Ball family took turns holding their newest member. "I don't know how to hold babies," LiAngelo revealed.
A few months after Zoey was born, Lonzo took to Instagram to share four pictures of the newborn, including a short clip of her sleeping on her father's chest. "For everyone who missed her in the new episode on 'Ball in the Family,'" he captioned the post.
Lonzo Ball Shows His Love to Little Zoey
Despite welcoming a child together, Lonzo and Denise went their separate ways. And in August 2022, the basketball player proved he had found love again after sharing a video of him and his new girlfriend in honor of their first anniversary. "One year down, many more to go," Lonzo captioned the post in part.
Aside from wholesome couples content, Lonzo also takes to Instagram to document his close relationship with his daughter. In 2018, he commemorated Zoey's first Halloween with an adorable snap of her dressed as Wonderwoman.
In March 2019, Lonzo revealed he was missing his little girl and posted a video of the father/daughter duo listening to music. In 2020, Lonzo celebrated Zoey's second birthday with a photo dump, and in honor of her third birthday in 2021, Lonzo revealed:
"Never loved someone like my lil mama, turned a boy to man a man to a father… Happy Birthday lil Z O I love you more than you can understand ❤️ #3."
In April 2021, Zoey was again featured on her father's Instagram page as they played a game of dominos. "The Student and The Teacher #WhosWho," Lonzo humorously captioned the post.
Lonzo Ball Helped Seven Fathers during a Charity Event
Although Lonzo was sidelined from playing basketball in 2022, that did not stop him from using his platform to give back to those in need. During the holiday season, the point guard partnered with Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities. This organization empowers and improves the quality of life of young fathers trying to support their children.
He had reached out to the Chicago Bulls Charities vertical in search of a way to give back and was connected with the organization. And through the organization, he helped seven fathers during the Christmas season.
He helped the young fathers choose Christmas gifts for their respective family members and donated $400 to each father to shop with. Lonzo also purchased a table full of clothes and toys for shoppers to choose from, free of charge. He said:
"I have a daughter, so it related to me. Christmas time is for the kids. For me to be able to help and give back a little bit and make their day a little brighter, I feel like that's my job."
As a young father, the organization's cause hit home for Lonzo, and the Bulls player shared that he felt it was his "responsibility" to help young fathers try to make their children happy during the festive season.
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