Lonzo Ball will not return this season after setbacks in his recovery from knee surgery, the Chicago Bulls announced Wednesday.
Ball underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Jan. 28. Despite initially receiving a recovery prognosis of six to eight weeks, Ball has been sidelined further because of a deep bone bruise in the same knee that he incurred before the meniscus tear.
Although the team’s medical staff said Ball recovered completely from the surgery, he continues to experience pain and discomfort when attempting to run or cut at full speed.
Ball ceased running March 21 in an attempt to give his body a 10-day break to fully recover. But coach Billy Donovan said the guard experienced discomfort again when he attempted sprinting drills Tuesday, forcing another halt in his activities.
The hope of bringing Ball back for a late-season boost often bolstered the Bulls throughout a skid after the All-Star break. Ball averaged 13 points, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 35 games this season, but his biggest impact came from intangibles — swarming opponents in perimeter defense and sparking the Bulls offense with a keen court vision.
“He brings a different type of swagger to us,” forward DeMar DeRozan said. “When he plays, I’m pretty sure you can pinpoint that. The whole dynamic of the game changes with Zo out there. It’s definitely been tough for us not to have him.”
Injuries have plagued Ball’s NBA career. He sprained an MCL and missed games with a shoulder injury throughout his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18, then tore an ankle ligament in January 2019. Injuries to his adductor, knee, hip flexor and thumb caused him to miss nine games in 2019-20 and 17 in 2020-21 with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ball — who is signed through 2024 — will now refocus his rehabilitation plan to prepare for the 2022-23 season.
Donovan said the Bulls medical staff has not suggested a secondary surgery is planned.
“No one has said that to me,” Donovan said. “I have not had any discussions with anybody about that. It was in his best interest health-wise to try to help him get through the discomfort he’s having and try to get him feeling better. How he goes about doing that right now, I just don’t know.”
()