Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is still battling with a balky knee. The Vice President of the franchise confirmed in a press conference on Thursday that he will not be returning for the upcoming season.
Ball has undergone three surgeries since February 2022, forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season. Now, reports suggest he might also miss the next one owing to persistent problems in his left knee.
Although Lonzo’s primary concern was a torn meniscus, the lingering post-operation pain caused him to go under the knife twice afterward. This has adversely affected his NBA career in recent times.
Bulls announcement on Lonzo Ball’s return
VP of the Bulls, Arturas Karnišovas announced that Lonzo Ball’s return is unlikely this season. According to an ESPN report, he said,
“Going into the offseason, our expectation is that he’s not coming back next season. He’s going to continue on his recovery. If he comes back, it would be great. But we’re just going to treat this offseason and get ready for the season that he’s not going to be back.”
The guard played his last game on 14th January 2022, marking almost a year-and-a-half-long hiatus from the court. His team, however, chose to be optimistic about his comeback to the sport. Karnisovas was quoted saying to the media, “I hope eventually we’re going to see him on a basketball court.”
Lonzo Ball NBA career
Lonzo began his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and appeared in 99 matches with the team. In 2018, his name was in the all-rookie second team. Overall, he has played a total of 252 career matches with the Lakers, Pelicans, and finally the Bulls.
Even after being a first-round draft for LA, the 25-year-old’s career seems to be uncertain at least in the near future. With consistent battles with repeated surgeries, it may be likely that the baller’s stellar career comes to a jolting halt.
Despite his and his team’s ardent desire to have him back on the court, only time will tell whether the player can recover enough to be playing a high-intensity sport like basketball.
While players in their prime strive to stay healthy, often things do not work out as planned. Lonzo Ball might be one such unfortunate example. Going out of practice for two years for a minor operation is unlikely, but clearly not impossible. Fans and experts hope that the star springs back to his healthy legs as soon as possible.
What are your thoughts about Lonzo’s repeated surgeries? Do you think the Bulls should continue placing their faith in him?
