9:54am: The Bulls have made it official, announcing in a press release that Ball won’t return this season.
“Despite making significant increases in strength and function over the past several months, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball continues to experience performance limiting discomfort during participation in high level basketball-related activities,” head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “Considering the required time period to achieve the necessary level of fitness to return-to-play and the current stage of the NBA season, Ball will not return this season. The focus for Ball will continue to be on the resolution of his discomfort and a full return for the 2023/24 season.”
9:40am: The Bulls are expected to shut down point guard Lonzo Ball for the rest of the 2022/23 season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago first reported that the Bulls were “widely expected” to announce sometime after the All-Star break that Ball would miss the remainder of the season.
Ball underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee last January, but complications related to that procedure prevented him from returning for the rest of the 2021/22 season. He underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure this past September in the hopes of cleaning up the lingering issues in the knee. However, according to Charania, the former No. 2 overall pick is still experiencing pain and discomfort.
It has been a brutal process for both Ball and the Bulls, who were playing terrific basketball before their starting point guard went down last season. At the time of Ball’s injury last January, Chicago had a 27-13 record; across parts of the two seasons since then, they’re just 45-56.
While Ball’s averages last season (13.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG) didn’t jump off the page, he was a strong contributor on defense and did a good job managing an offense that includes three talented scorers (Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic). He also helped spread the floor around those scorers by making 42.3% of his three-pointers.
The Bulls have rotated through multiple point guards this season, with Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso both getting starts and Goran Dragic and Coby White also seeing some time at the position. Chicago just reached an agreement to sign another veteran point guard, Patrick Beverley, to help fill the void created by Ball’s absence.
Given how long Ball has been sidelined, at this point we’re just hoping to eventually see the talented 25-year-old back on the floor and looking like his old self. Ideally, that will happen next season, but we’ll have to wait for more details on his prognosis, including whether he’ll have to undergo any additional procedures.
Ball still has two years left on his contract with the Bulls beyond this season. He’s owed a guaranteed $20.5MM salary next season, with a $21.4MM player option for 2024/25.
Soft as Charmin tp
You can’t shut down what hasn’t been started up?
The pot calling the kettle black. Nothing softer than calling someone soft for a debilitating injury outside of their control.
Dude is just injury prone. Those legs are too damn skinny
He’s never played a full season. Sounds like the Lakers made the right move trading this softy.
Anthony Davis is obviously the better player but in terms of games played…Lonzo at 153 since the trade and Davis at 178.
Most all players with major knee injuries are out around a year before returning to the court.
In decades past, there were cases of players who couldn’t come back at all from major knee injuries, but this is 2022-23. Lonzo Ball should be back on the court by now even under extremely conservative rehab guidelines.
This announcement is enough to make one wonder what is going on behind the scenes.
He should have rehabbed harder. He’s making a huge mistake taking it easy and waiting for contract yr to play. It’s not easy to just turn off and on. He may never get it back and he probably wont have another big payday.
Think most people thought this was the case.
This is worded like he could come back, but the season would be nearly over, so what’s the point?
I think there is quite a bit more to it than that, but atleast they finally publicly declared what I believe many already expected.
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
Exciting player when he’s on. Hope he can return healthy.
Tough to be considered to be “better” than Michael and/or LeBron when you can’t run, right Daddy?
U just called me daddy lol think I can retire from HR again
initially called a 4-6 week injury has turnt into a season and a half with no improvement smh.
He is soft……. And his 15 mins is running out. Could it be wasted talent ????
5yrs in and has played 252 gms. Out of (82×5) 410 gms. So a little more than half.
You ever heard Jalen Rose. Talk about guys who go IR in a hurry. Then stay there ………
easy money. Some players just don’t care enough.
Yeah, Its the reason why players want to play for Reinsdorf owned teams, you can get your big contract and have an ‘ouchie’ for most of it. I notice these guys never have leg problems when running to collect their checks though.
Lazy selfish waste, only plays in contract years.
No wonder the Bulls went after Pat Bev…
They’ve got a sunk cost in Ball and needed some help at the position…
It’s almost like having a egotistical blast of hot air as a father didn’t lead to great nutrition and training habits…