A backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same is provided. The backlight assembly includes a plurality of U-type external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) connected to common electrode parts to reduce the occurrence of short circuits. The a backlight assembly includes a first common electrode part, a second common electrode part arranged parallel to the first common electrode with a predetermined distance in-between, and a plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps, each having a bent shape and electrically connected to the first and second common electrode parts and a liquid crystal display panel displaying an image according to transmissivity of light supplied from the backlight assembly.