Cody Zeller
From Indiana Mr.
Cody Allen Zeller is an American former professional basketball player born on October 5, 1992, whose career began with a high school standout run in Washington, Indiana. Selected fourth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2013 NBA draft, he spent one season as a Bobcat and six seasons as a Hornet before the franchise's rebrand. Known for his mobility and scoring instincts from his college days at Indiana University, Zeller earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors as a rookie. His journey includes stops with the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat; however, he was waived by Miami and signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in February 2023 before the playoffs, officially announcing his retirement on October 17, 2023.
- position
- Center
- draft_origin
- 2013 NBA Draft (4th overall pick)
- primary_affiliation
- Charlotte Hornets
- previous_stints
- Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans
- playing_style
- Mobility, scoring instincts, aggressiveness
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Zeller's path began at Washington High School, where he was named Indiana Mr. Basketball as a senior in 2011, following in the footsteps of his elder brothers. Rated as a top-15 recruit by major services like Scout.com and Rivals.com, he committed to Indiana University on November 12, 2010, earning the nickname 'The Big Handsome.' During his freshman season (2011–12), he led the Hoosiers with 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 62.3 percent from the field to claim Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In his sophomore year (2012–13), despite being projected as a top-ten pick in 2012, he returned to lead Indiana to the outright Big Ten championship. That season, he averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors and Second Team All-American recognition before declaring for the draft alongside teammate Victor Oladipo.
In Their Own Story
On July 10, 2013, Zeller signed his rookie scale contract with the Charlotte Bobcats after being selected fourth overall. His debut season saw him play all 82 regular-season games and all four playoff matches. By April 5, 2014, he recorded his first career double-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers with 12 points and 11 rebounds, eventually earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. However, injuries plagued his later years; on December 6, 2017, he suffered a torn medial meniscus, missing 27 games that season. He also broke his right hand on December 31, 2018, ruling him out for four to six weeks. Despite these setbacks, he signed a four-year, $56 million extension in November 2014 and remained with the Hornets until August 2021.
Reader's Guide
Zeller's professional timeline is defined by specific moves rather than long-term versatility across multiple teams simultaneously. After eight seasons with Charlotte (2013–2021), he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on August 4, 2021, but was waived on February 8, 2022, to accommodate CJ McCollum trade acquisitions. He briefly joined the Utah Jazz in September 2022 before being waived just weeks later. A pivotal moment occurred on February 20, 2023, when he signed with the Miami Heat, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in his career as they lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. He then joined the New Orleans Pelicans on July 6, 2023. His tenure ended there on February 6, 2025, when he was traded to the Houston Rockets via sign-and-trade involving Larry Nance Jr. and others for Dejounte Murray. Finally, on March 2, 2025, the Rockets waived him to create roster space.
Did You Know?
- Zeller is the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard and the youngest brother of Tyler Zeller and Luke Zeller.
- He earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in May 2017, becoming a CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team member during his college career.
- Zeller married Contemporary Christian recording artist Leanna Crawford in October 2022.
- As a senior in high school, Zeller was the 26th Indiana Mr. Basketball to play for the Hoosiers.
- He played one season as a Bobcat and six seasons as a Hornet before being traded to Portland in February 2020.