Cody Allen Zeller (born October 5, 1992) is an American professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player who last played for the

New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...

of the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA). He played

college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...

for the

Indiana Hoosiers The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the demonym for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in NCAA Division I, Division I of the National Coll ...

. Zeller was selected with the fourth pick in the

2013 NBA draft The 2013 NBA draft was held on June 27, 2013, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including internation ...

by the then- Charlotte Bobcats. He is the brother of former

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

players Tyler and Luke, and the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard.

High school career

In his freshman year of high school, Zeller averaged 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game as his team, the Washington Hatchets, won a Class 3A IHSAA state championship. During his sophomore season, he averaged 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds. In his junior season, Zeller led Washington to a Class 3A state championship, averaging 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Following that season he was named an Indiana Junior All-Star. In his senior year of high school, Zeller averaged 24.6 points per game, 13.1 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game while leading the Hatchets to the Class 3A IHSAA state championship, the third title of his career. Zeller led the Indiana Senior All-Stars to a two-game sweep of the Kentucky All-Stars. He played AAU basketball for the Indiana Elite program and led the USA 2011 squad to the Adidas Nations Championship in Chicago during the summer of 2010. Following the end of his senior season, Zeller was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, the state's highest honor for high school players and an award both of his elder brothers also won. Zeller became the 26th Mr. Basketball from the state of Indiana to play for the Hoosiers. He was a 2011 McDonald's All American player and scored 10 points, pulled down three rebounds and had three assists in the nationally acclaimed all-star game. Other honors Zeller won in his high school career include first-team All-State honors from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, the Gatorade Player of the Year accolades in Indiana, and a second-team ''Parade'' All-American. According to

ESPN ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...

Zeller was the 13th best overall recruit in 2011. Scout.com had him rated 12th nationally and third at his position, while Rivals.com had him slotted 15th in the country and fourth at his position.

College career

On November 12, 2010, Zeller committed to play for

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

, turning down offers from

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

and

Butler A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments, with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantries, pantr ...

. Upon his commitment he was labeled "the savior of Indiana basketball." At the time Coach Tom Crean noted, "He's the most mentally focused kid I've ever recruited ... I see a young man that has mental toughness that is not normal." Zeller was nicknamed "The Big Handsome" during his time at IU.

Freshman season

In Zeller's first year as a Hoosier during the 2011–12 season he led the team with 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 62.3 percent (200-of-321) from the field and 75.5 percent (163-of-216) from the free-throw line. He ranked fourth in the country in field goal percentage, led the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...

and posted the second-highest percentage in school history. His offensive rating of 126.8 ranked him 14th nationwide. Zeller was the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, as voted on by the coaches, after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times. He was also Second Team All-Big Ten and a First Team Freshman All-American. He was a finalist for the Wayman Tisdale Award (USBWA National Freshman of the Year) and was a candidate for the John Wooden Award and Oscar Robertson Trophy. With the addition of Zeller to the team, the Hoosiers' record in 2011–12 improved by fifteen games over the prior season, making it the largest single turnaround in the NCAA that year. The Hoosiers earned a number four seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and defeated

New Mexico State New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a Public university system, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution ...

in the second round. After defeating VCU in the third round, the Hoosiers lost in the Sweet Sixteen to

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

, the eventual national champions.

Sophomore season

Although projected to be a top ten pick in the

2012 NBA draft The 2012 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2012, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball A ...

, Zeller decided to return for his sophomore season at Indiana, along with teammate Christian Watford. In a statement issued by the Indiana Athletic Department, he said, "I grew up hoping that one day I would get the opportunity to play in the NBA, but at this point, I'm not ready for my college experience to be over...My college experience at IU this year has exceeded my expectations, on and off the court. I look forward to playing at Assembly Hall next year in front of the greatest fans in the country." Due in part to Zeller's leadership, the Indiana Hoosiers finished the 2012–13 season as the outright Big Ten champions. He finished the regular season as the conference's third-highest scorer (16.8 points) and second highest rebounder (8.2), along with second in the league in shooting at 57% while only trailing teammate Victor Oladipo in the Big Ten. Zeller accumulated numerous post-season awards. He was named a 2013 All-American by the USBWA (2nd Team) and ''

Sporting News ''The Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a ...

'' (3rd Team). He was also named First Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, as well as a First Team Academic All-American. At the end of his sophomore season, Zeller decided to enter the

, along with teammate

Victor Oladipo Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo ( ; born May 4, 1992) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently a sports analyst for ESPN. Oladipo play ...

Professional career

Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (2013–2021)

2013 –16: All-Rookie honors and later years

Zeller was selected with the fourth overall pick in the

by the Charlotte Bobcats. On July 10, 2013, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Bobcats. On March 31, 2014, he scored a season-high 15 points against the

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...

.Cody Zeller 2013-14 Game Log
/ref> On April 5, 2014, he recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

. He appeared in all 82 regular season games and all four of Charlotte's playoff games. At the season's end, he was named to the

NBA All-Rookie Second Team The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches who are not allowed to vote for play ...

. On November 28, 2014, Zeller recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds against the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1946 i ...

.Cody Zeller 2014-15 Game Log
/ref> On January 31, 2015, he scored a season-high 21 points in a 104–86 win over the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...

. On February 19, 2016, Zeller scored a career-high 23 points in a 98–95 win over the

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

. He had five double-doubles during the season.Cody Zeller 2015-16 Game Log
/ref>

2016 –21: Double-digit streaks and career-highs

Despite missing the entire preseason because of a right knee injury, Zeller played in the Hornets' season opener on October 26, 2016, going 5 of 6 from the field for 15 points in 14 minutes in a 107–96 win over the Bucks. Five days later, he signed a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the Hornets. On November 18, 2016, he tied his career high with 23 points in a 100–96 win over the

Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...

. He averaged career highs in 2016–17 with 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Zeller played in the Hornets' season opener then missed the next four games. On December 6, 2017, in a 101–87 loss to the Warriors, Zeller suffered a torn medial meniscus in his left knee with 49 seconds left in the third quarter. He missed 27 games as a result, returning to action on February 2 against the

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

. He missed games on February 28 and March 2 with a sore left knee. He later missed the final 16 games of the season with knee soreness. Due to injury, he appeared in a career-low 33 games in 2017–18. On November 28, 2018, Zeller scored a then season-high 19 points in a 108–94 win over the Hawks. On December 14, in a 126–124 overtime loss to the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

, Zeller had season highs in points (21) and rebounds (13) to record the first 20-point, 10-rebound game of his career and tally his first double-double of the season. It also marked his third-straight double-digit scoring performance. On December 31, Zeller suffered a broken right hand against the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

. He was subsequently ruled out for four to six weeks after undergoing surgery. He returned to action on February 5 against the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

after missing 16 games. On February 25, he made 13 of 14 shots from the field and finished with a career-high 28 points in a 121–110 loss to the Warriors.

Portland Trail Blazers (2021–2022)

On August 4, 2021, Zeller signed with the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

. He was waived on February 8, 2022, to make room for players acquired in the CJ McCollum trade. On September 25, 2022, Zeller signed with the

Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the ...

. On October 15, he was waived.

Miami Heat (2023)

On February 20, 2023, Zeller signed with the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

. The eighth-seeded Heat would embark on a Cinderella run through the playoffs, culminating in an Eastern Conference championship. In his tenth season, Zeller reached the

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

for the first time in his career. The Heat would ultimately fall to the

in five games.

New Orleans Pelicans (2023–2024)

On July 6, 2023, Zeller signed with the

. On July 6, 2024, Zeller, Larry Nance Jr.,

E. J. Liddell Eric "E. J." Liddell Jr. ( ); born December 18, 2000) is an American professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. He played colleg ...

, Dyson Daniels, a 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers), and a conditional 2027 first-round pick were traded to the

in exchange for Dejounte Murray. Zeller was acquired via a sign-and-trade deal. On February 6, 2025, Zeller and a 2028 second round pick were traded to the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

in exchange for the draft rights to Alpha Kaba. On March 2, 2025, Cody Zeller was waived by the

to create roster space for guard Nate Williams.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 82 , , 3 , , 17.3 , , .426 , , .000 , , .730 , , 4.3 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .5 , , 6.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 62 , , 45 , , 24.0 , , .461 , , 1.000 , , .774 , , 5.8 , , 1.6 , , .5 , , .8 , , 7.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 73 , , 60 , , 24.3 , , .529 , , .100 , , .754 , , 6.2 , , 1.0 , , .8 , , .9 , , 8.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 62 , , 58 , , 27.8 , , .571 , , .000 , , .679 , , 6.5 , , 1.6 , , 1.0 , , 1.0 , , 10.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 33 , , 0 , , 19.0 , , .545 , , .667 , , .718 , , 5.4 , , .9 , , .4 , , .6 , , 7.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 49 , , 47 , , 25.4 , , .551 , , .273 , , .787 , , 6.8 , , 2.1 , , .8 , , .8 , , 10.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 58 , , 39 , , 23.1 , , .524 , , .240 , , .682 , , 7.1 , , 1.5 , , .7 , , .4 , , 11.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 48 , , 21 , , 20.9 , , .559 , , .143 , , .714 , , 6.8 , , 1.8 , , .6 , , .4 , , 9.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Portland , 27 , , 0 , , 13.1 , , .567 , , .000 , , .776 , , 4.6 , , .8 , , .3 , , .2 , , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, 15 , , 2 , , 14.4 , , .627 , , .000 , , .686 , , 4.3 , , .7 , , .2 , , .3 , , 6.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, 43 , , 0 , , 7.4 , , .419 , , .333 , , .605 , , 2.6 , , .9 , , .2 , , .1 , , 1.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 552 , , 275 , , 20.9 , , .520 , , .220 , , .727 , , 5.7 , , 1.3 , , .6 , , .6 , , 7.9

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 4 , , 0 , , 13.3 , , .333 , , , , .500 , , 2.3 , , .5 , , .0 , , .8 , , 2.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 7 , , 2 , , 19.6 , , .553 , , , , .810 , , 5.3 , , .3 , , .1 , , .4 , , 8.4 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 21 , , 0 , , 8.3 , , .571 , , , , .400 , , 2.3 , , .3 , , .1 , , .2 , , 2.2 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 32 , , 2 , , 11.4 , , .537 , , , , .625 , , 2.9 , , .3 , , .1 , , .3 , , 3.5

College

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2011–12 , style="text-align:left;",

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, 36 , , 36 , , 28.5 , , .623 , , – , , .755 , , 6.6 , , 1.3 , , 1.4 , , 1.2 , , 15.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2012–13 , style="text-align:left;",

, 36 , , 36 , , 29.5 , , .564 , , .000 , , .757 , , 8.0 , , 1.3 , , 1.0 , , 1.3 , , 16.5 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 72 , , 72 , , 29.0 , , .592 , , .000 , , .756 , , 7.3 , , 1.3 , , 1.2 , , 1.2 , , 16.1

Player profile

In college, analysts described Zeller as having "the outstanding combination of mobility, scoring instincts and aggressiveness", while also being "an incredibly agile and fluid big man who runs the floor well and has the explosiveness to play above the rim regularly." Zeller is also known for a "high basketball IQ" and unselfish play. Other commentators have noted his "high motor" and that he is "the best screen-and-roll frontcourt player in college basketball...He sprints to the screen, reads slips, and has great hands. He is hard to keep off the glass and has the versatility to play in the high post as well as on the baseline."

Personal life

Zeller is from

Washington, Indiana Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,017 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Daviess County. It is also the principal city of the Washington, Indiana Micropolitan S ...

and the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard. He is the youngest brother of former

and NBA center Tyler Zeller and former Notre Dame and

Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...

forward-center Luke Zeller. Despite pressures brought on by unusually high expectations, commentators have noted his humility and work ethic, along with "dry wit and prankster's mirth." In May 2017, Zeller earned his bachelor's degree when he graduated from

's Kelley School of Business. He married Contemporary Christian recording artist, Leanna Crawford, in 2023.

References

External links

Indiana Hoosiers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeller, Cody 1992 births Living people 21st-century American sportsmen All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball players Basketball players from Indiana Centers (basketball) Charlotte Bobcats draft picks Charlotte Bobcats players Charlotte Hornets players Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball players McDonald's High School All-Americans Miami Heat players New Orleans Pelicans players Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) People from Washington, Indiana Portland Trail Blazers players Power forwards Utah Jazz players Kelley School of Business alumni Indiana University Bloomington alumni