Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is hoping to get past the knee issues that disrupted his season, but general manager Marc Eversley mixed uncertainty with optimism when he talked about Ball’s condition Thursday night, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Ball was in the middle of his first season with the Bulls when he suffered a torn left meniscus. He was given a six- to eight-week recovery timetable after undergoing surgery on January 28, but a bone bruise that happened before the meniscus tear kept him out of action through the playoffs. A report in late April suggested his recovery was at a “standstill.”
Eversley said he wasn’t sure when asked if Ball would be able to suit up for a game right now.
“That’s something we probably need to talk to the performance staff about,” Eversley responded. “That’s not a call I can make now. I can just tell you that he’s rehabbing and he’s making progress.”
Eversley also couldn’t guarantee that Ball will be ready for the start of training camp, adding, “I certainly hope so.”
Chicago was one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference before its season got derailed by injuries. Losing Ball was among the most costly as his defensive presence and relentless transition attacks were an important part of that early success.
The Bulls were 22-13 with Ball in the lineup, but only 24-23 without him. They slipped into the sixth seed and were eliminated by Milwaukee in five games.
Damn. Sounds like he might need to get the dead man’s knee surgery, how much meniscus did they cut off?
Ball got paid. He’s in no hurry to suit up.
Dude didn’t work and doesn’t work as hard he does to just coast after getting paid. That’s lame.
@True
That’s really an irresponsible thing to say. What reason did you have tti suggest he’s missing time because he’s not committed to rehab?
Internet warriors always know that every athlete is lazy and doesn’t work hard.
Bulls gonna have to make a deal to get a fill in until they have some certainty on Ball. Without him their offense was somewhat predictable, needed to be regularly bailed out by heroics from DeMar.
They just drafted Lonzo light