Bulls guard Lonzo Ball ruled out for the rest of the season
After no progress in Lonzo Ball’s rehab, the Bulls have decided to shut him down for the season.
The Bulls cited Ball’s inability to move past persistent pain and discomfort as the primary reason for the move. Ball has had two surgeries on the knee since January 2022
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“Despite making significant increases in strength and function over the past several months, Ball continues to experience performance-limiting discomfort during participation in high-level basketball-related activities,” Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said in a team statement via ESPN. “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.”
Chicago initially hoped that Ball would return late last season after his first surgery. However, the veteran point guard continued to experience setbacks that forced him to miss the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season.
Ball struggled to make progress over last offseason, leading to a second surgery. He had performed well in his first campaign before the injury. He averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
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Ball is in the second year of his four-year, $80 million deal. If things don’t improve, it could see his already cloudy future in Chicago be put into even more doubt.
