Lonzo Ball’s Rehab At “Standstill,” Will Visit Specialist Next Week

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, who was officially ruled out for the season on April 6 after experiencing a couple of setbacks in his surgically-repaired left knee, says his rehab is “kind of at a standstill right now,” according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Ball plans to visit another specialist next week, as he’s still experiencing pain from the bone bruise in his knee.

“Kind of let it calm down for the last two weeks. I was going at it pretty hard trying to get back as fast as possible,” Ball said. “But like I said, at a standstill, still have pain. So gotta get that figured out this summer for sure.”

Ball said he isn’t sure whether he’ll need a second surgery, but hopes to avoid it if possible.

“Hopefully not. I wouldn’t want to have another one,” he said. “But if that’s what it takes, then I pretty much have no choice at this point.”

As Johnson notes, injuries have been a concern for Ball throughout his pro career. The January surgery to repair his torn meniscus was the second time he’s had a procedure to repair the same cartilage in his left knee, the first occurring in 2017.

Ball has appeared in 252 of a possible 390 games in his five-year career, including 35 of 82 this season. He admitted something needs to change in the offseason.

“Obviously, something needs to be addressed this summer—a lot more leg workouts as opposed to probably upper body,” Ball said, per Johnson. “I’m going to work with the doctors and the strength coaches and do what I gotta do to get healthy.”

Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans last offseason, Ball played a major role in Chicago’s impressive first half. He started 35 games at point guard, averaging 13.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.8 SPG with a .423 3PT% and strong defense. The Bulls went 22-13 in games he played, and 24-23 without him.

The 24-year-old will earn $19.5MM in 2022/23, the second season of his four-year, $80MM contract with Chicago, which includes a player option in 2024/25.