It sounds like a punchline to a joke nobody quite told. Lonzo Ball, a guy whose career has been defined as much by his family's viral marketing as his actual court vision, teaming up with a company that literally sells alcohol in plastic spheres. If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you've probably seen the Lonzo Ball Buzz Ball memes. It felt like a fever dream. A professional athlete, one who has spent years battling a nightmare of knee surgeries and "bust" labels, suddenly standing next to a 116-ounce blue plastic basketball that you can drink out of.
But here’s the thing: it wasn't just a meme.
📖 Related: A'ja Wilson Twitter: What Most People Get Wrong About the WNBA’s Biggest Voice
In early 2025, right as March Madness was ramping up, BuzzBallz dropped the "Big Blue BBallz." They brought in Lonzo Ball as the face of the campaign. The logic? Pretty straightforward. His last name is Ball. The product is a ball. It’s the kind of marketing synergy that is so obvious it’s actually brilliant. Lonzo, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2025 off-season after a roller-coaster stint with the Chicago Bulls, needed a win off the court. BuzzBallz needed a way to go viral beyond the "college party" demographic.
The Anatomy of the Big Blue BBallz
So, what is it? Honestly, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It is a regulation-sized, blue-textured basketball. But instead of being filled with air and ready for a crossover, it’s hollow. It’s designed to hold roughly 116 ounces of liquid. To put that in perspective, that is the equivalent of 17 standard BuzzBallz cocktails.
The primary flavor driving this whole thing was "Berry Cherry Limeade." If you know the brand, you know their fans. They had already nicknamed this specific blue flavor "Blue Ballz." You can see why the marketing team’s eyes probably lit up when they realized they could get an actual NBA player named Ball to hold a giant "Blue Ball" on camera.
Lonzo didn't just put his name on it; he did the rounds. He showed up on podcasts—including his own "What An Experience" show and "Straight to Cam" with Cameron Brink—talking about how the partnership felt "natural." When you’ve spent three years wondering if your knee is ever going to let you run again, maybe a deal involving a giant blue drinkable basketball feels like the most normal thing in the world.
Why This Collaboration Actually Worked
Marketing experts usually tell you to stay away from puns this low-hanging. Yet, for Lonzo, it hit a specific Gen Z vibe. BuzzBallz, owned by Sazerac since 2024, has this weird, cult-like status. It’s not "fine dining." It’s "let’s have a chaotic Saturday." Lonzo’s career has been similarly chaotic.
- The Name Factor: Lonzo Ball and BuzzBallz. It’s a tongue-twister that writes itself.
- The Color Connection: Lonzo frequently mentioned that the "Big Blue" color reminded him of his UCLA days.
- The Price Point: These empty, refillable basketball containers sold for about $20. They sold out almost instantly.
Lonzo's 2026 Reality: Beyond the Bottle
While the Lonzo Ball Buzz Ball campaign was a massive viral success, the reality of Lonzo's 2025-2026 season has been a lot more complicated. After undergoing a historic ligament transplant—a surgery no professional athlete had ever successfully returned from—he actually made it back to the floor.
It hasn't been a fairytale.
Currently, Lonzo is playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’s been in and out of the rotation. In early January 2026, he was averaging about 5.2 points and 4.5 assists. Some nights he looks like the elite floor general we remember; other nights, the "DNP - Coach's Decision" starts to pile up. The Cavaliers’ front office is reportedly feeling the heat. There’s been talk of him being a trade candidate or even facing "banishment" from the rotation as the team tries to figure out their identity alongside stars like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
It’s a tough spot. He’s on a two-year, $20 million contract extension he signed back in Chicago, and while the Bulls fans mostly remember him for what could have been, the Cleveland fans are still waiting for the spark.
✨ Don't miss: Exactly How Many Miles in the New York Marathon and Why Those Last 0.2 Matter Most
The Business of Being a "Ball"
Lonzo has always been a businessman. Remember the Big Baller Brand? The $495 shoes that famously fell apart on the court? He’s learned a lot since then. The BuzzBallz deal was handled by Klutch Sports, and it’s a much more "corporate-ready" version of the Ball family's marketing muscle.
He’s also moved into the media space heavily. In late 2025, Lonzo and his brother LiAngelo joined Betr (Jake Paul’s company) as equity partners. They brought their podcast over there, rebranding it for the 2025-2026 NBA tip-off. He’s diversifyng. He knows the knee might not last forever, but the "Ball" brand is still worth millions.
Addressing the "Blue Ballz" Misconception
We have to talk about the name. Yes, BuzzBallz and Lonzo leaned into the "Blue Ballz" joke. It was the fastest-selling flavor in the company's history. But let’s be clear for anyone looking for the actual product: the "Big Blue BBallz" container did not come with alcohol inside.
📖 Related: Vita Vea Full Name: Why It’s Way Longer Than You Think
You bought the ball for $20, and then you had to buy the 1.75-liter "Biggies" or the small 200ml spheres separately to fill it up. It was a collector's item. A conversation piece. Something to sit on your shelf next to your LaMelo 1s.
What You Should Know Before Buying a Resale "Big Blue"
If you are looking to find one of these on the secondary market now that they are sold out, keep a few things in mind.
- Texture Matters: The real ones have a distinct basketball grip. If it feels like smooth plastic, it's a knock-off.
- Volume: It holds 116 ounces. That is a lot of liquid. Don't try to drink that by yourself. Seriously.
- Cleaning: Because it's a "refillable basketball," it's notoriously annoying to clean. If you're buying a used one, check the internal seals.
The Lonzo Ball Buzz Ball era might have been a flash in the pan, but it represents exactly where sports marketing is going in 2026. It's less about the "official sports drink of the NBA" and more about the "viral moment that fits your personality." Lonzo is an enigma. He’s a guy who was supposed to be the next Magic Johnson, became a cautionary tale of injury, and is now a savvy media mogul and role player.
The partnership was weird. It was loud. It was blue. And honestly, for a guy who has spent way too much time in physical therapy, maybe having a little fun with his own name was the best medicine.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Secondary Market: If you missed the original March 2025 drop, look for "BuzzBallz Big Blue BBallz" on eBay or StockX, but expect to pay a premium over the $20 retail.
- Track Lonzo's Career: Keep an eye on the Cleveland Cavaliers' injury reports. Lonzo's minutes are a barometer for his long-term health, and his role as a backup to Garland is currently a major talking point in NBA trade rumors.
- Sample the Flavor: You can still buy the Berry Cherry Limeade in standard sizes at most liquor stores. It’s the "official" flavor of the Lonzo collab and is generally considered the most palatable of the high-ABV BuzzBallz lineup.