Due to ongoing stiffness and discomfort from meniscus surgery on his left knee in January, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is questionable for the start of the regular season.
He underwent arthroscopic surgery on January 28 and, despite a source stating that his knee is fundamentally good, he continued to endure pain while trying to play basketball as he spent the summer recovering in Los Angeles.
This is unfortunate given how strong the Bulls appeared to be with a healthy Ball last year. Chicago remained in the top position in the Eastern Conference for a considerable amount of time when their whole roster was available. He and Alex Caruso formed one of the top defensive backcourts in basketball. The Bulls looked like serious contenders for the first time in ten years because of the scoring punch of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and others.
Ball will return to Chicago the following week to undergo more evaluation by the organization, but sources say it is unlikely that he will take part when the Bulls’ training camp gets underway at the end of this month.
He has seen numerous knee doctors identify the cause and remedies for the persisting pain and suffering throughout the summer. Still, the Bulls have been mum about a probable timeline for his rehabilitation, according to sources.
The Bulls stated that the initial recuperation period would last six to eight weeks when he initially suffered the injury in January. The team made many attempts to increase Ball’s activity level in anticipation of his return to the court at the end of the previous season, but Ball’s knee never reacted.
He was finally limited to a career-low 35 games before his season-long absence was officially declared at the start of April. Ball confessed that his knee recovery was “at a standstill” in his exit interview at the conclusion of that month.
Chicago’s already modest odds of making a legitimate title run may drastically decrease if Lonzo Ball can’t stay healthy this season. The Bulls must get him healthy as soon as possible because he still has three years left on his contract.
Written By Dylan Santoyo
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
ESPN: Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball expected to miss training camp, doubtful for start of NBA season, sources say
CBS: Lonzo Ball doubtful for start of season as knee pain persists following meniscus surgery, per report
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Inset Image Courtesy of Erik Drost’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
