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Jamal Collier, ESPNJan 18, 2025, 12:51 AM ET
CHICAGO — Lonzo Ball said the matchups against his brother, LaMelo Ball, were always a treat, but especially Friday night’s game, which ended up as a 125-123 victory for the Charlotte Hornets, because it was the first time the two brothers have shared an NBA court since November 29, 2021.
Not only was it the first time in 1,145 days the two brothers have matched up against each other, but they also had their brother, LiAngelo, sitting in the stands, fresh off signing his new record deal.
“It would’ve been a lot better if we won,” Lonzo Ball said with a laugh after the game. “Playing him, it’s definitely bigger than most games for me, just because he is my little brother, man, and I grew up playing with him my whole life.”
The gap between matchups comes as both Ball brothers have dealt with injuries over the past few seasons. LaMelo Ball has not played more than 36 games in either of the past two seasons and missed the first two meetings between these two teams this year. But he has played the Bulls four times since that Nov. 2021 game, but Lonzo Ball missed 2 1/2 years with multiple knee injuries before returning this season.
“The journey was amazing too,” LaMelo said about his brother’s injury. “The whole family, it’s always amazing whenever I see both my brothers. Great times.”
Lonzo Ball finished with six points on 2 of 6 shooting with three rebounds, three assists and three steals, and he was apart of the closing lineup for Chicago that came charging back in the fourth quarter.
Charlotte jumped out to a 12-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to take the lead, but the Bulls stormed back with a 14-3 run, before falling short down the stretch. The Bulls have lost four consecutive games.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets in scoring with 26 points and added nine assists.
“To see the growth has been amazing,” Lonzo Ball said about his brother.
Both teams had an off-day Thursday before the game, which allowed the three Ball brothers to have dinner in Chicago before they took the court. It’s a moment Lonzo Ball said he cherished, considering how each brother was enjoying his own measure of success at the moment. LiAngelo produced the first hit rap single of 2025 –“He’s big time right now,” Lonzo said with a laugh. “Those rappers are a little different, man.” LaMelo is leading the league in All-Star voting for guards. And Ball is playing significant minutes down the stretch for Chicago after missing nearly three years and undergoing an unprecedented cartilage replacement surgery.
“We do what we always do when we see each other, just kicking at the crib, man,” Lonzo Ball said. “We kids again, to be honest. Pulled up, I had a chef cook for us, got some good food and just chilled all night.”
Then, there was plenty of time for competition and trash talk both during and after Friday’s game.
As the two shook up during the final buzzer, Lonzo reminded his brother that they were now tied in their matchups against each other. LaMelo disagreed.
“Our record is 2-2, so I mean he can’t be too happy about that,” Lonzo Ball said.
“But to him, it’s 3-1 his way. I don’t know how that guy thinks sometimes.”