Bulls guard Lonzo Ball underwent successful knee surgery on Monday, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters, including Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link).
“We understand it’s going to be an uphill battle for him, but we know he’s going to do everything possible to get back on the court,” Donovan said.
According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link), Donovan referred to Ball’s recovery timeline as “indefinite” and the team will prepare for next season’s training camp with the mentality that Ball will not be available.
Ball was set to receive a cartilage transplant in his left knee after two previous surgeries were unable to clear up persistent discomfort when he tried to ramp up his on-court activities. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since January 14, 2022, when he tore his meniscus.
This third surgery was something of a last resort, as there were reportedly concerns about Ball’s ability to resume playing. He could miss all of 2023/24 after missing the entire ’22/23 season.
In other health-related news for the Bulls, guard Alex Caruso will miss Monday’s game against Philadelphia, tweets Bulls radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky. He had previously been listed as questionable. As K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago notes (via Twitter), Caruso aggravated a left midfoot strain on Saturday, which caused him to leave the victory early.
On a positive note, forward Javonte Green will make his return to the lineup — he last played on December 31. Green underwent surgery in January, an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee. An impending free agent, Green had been slow to recover, but was recently practicing with the team’s G League affiliate.
Ball boys are experiencing Karma for their idiot father’s antics.
Never forget when he asked for 3 billion for the 3 of them
You can’t have bad karma because of the actions of another.
That’s kinda the whole point.
what did their father do that was so idiotic?
link to healthline.com
According to this article. He’ll be out 9 months. Just not looking good for Lonzo. I’d move away from him. Time for another PG.
Bulls should sign Rose next yr. To mentor Ayo. And draft a PG …. Or trade for Quickley.
Mentor Ayo? Really
I liked this comment until the Rose mentorship…
Almost any other veteran guard would be better…
Lonzo gets paid to cruise around Cali now. Only plays in contract years.
Wow look at this tough guy
Pipe down, hypocrite. I’ve seen your own ‘tough guy’ comments when someone disagrees.
Time for a buyout for Lonzo.
If he comes back as any thing more than a league-average player, I think we’d all be amazed. VORP <= 0.o.
Cut your losses, Bulls!
It’s Brandon Roy all over again…
Come on all, time to move on from the Lavar thing. Lonzo worked extremely hard to improve his game, his three point shooting percentage improved each of his first five years in the league, 30.5%. 32.9%, 37.5%, 37.8%, and finally 42.3%. His career assist/turnover ratio is almost 3-1, and he’s always been good defensively.
Lonzo improved the holes in his game significantly, and was the guy spurring the Bulls on to a great start last year before the unfortunate injury. I wasn’t a fan of his when he came into the league, but I have become one based on him distancing himself from the nonsense and really working to improve the shortcomings in his early career game.
LaVar’s parenting is a huge part of this…
The training and nutrition that has led to these injuries is largely that brainless fools fault…
Simple solutions and answers for simple people.
Especially of the mind
He’s 25. I’d restructure the deal before cutting him. But these kids want money now for uncertainty later. I’d rather be on a team that knows the situation and witnessed how disappointed he was and how bad he wants to play. But throw them some love for being patient. Also…. no one does that so he’s gonna be a first if he does.
Unless there’s a medical retirement (or CHI finds a trade partner in a massive salary dump), Ball’s salary (including the option year if and when it’s picked up) will remain on CHI’s books for the life of the deal. NBA contracts can’t be changed with respect to its guaranteed terms. Cutting Ball won’t change those terms or cut any of the team’s losses (it will just eliminates any possibility the team might have in the future to mitigate them).
The surgery he’s having is relatively new. Sounds like a last resort. Of course, so was Tommy John surgery, when Tommy John had it. Like that surgery, this one would likely advance only if it became popular for professional athletes.