The news regarding Lonzo Ball‘s potential return from left knee surgery this season is increasingly gloomy. Ball will not run for the next 10 days. Instead, he’ll focus on strengthening the knee, Bulls coach Billy Donovan told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link) and other media members on Monday.
Ball has been sidelined since January 14. He was expected to return in six-to-eight weeks after undergoing a procedure to repair torn meniscus in his left knee. It’s a near certainty now he won’t be back in the regular season and his postseason status is also in jeopardy due to the slow recovery.
Asked about Ball’s ability to return this season, Donovan said, “I think we’ll have a better feel of that once they get through this next 10 days,” according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Rob Schaefer (Twitter link).
Donovan indicated last week that Ball’s recovery wasn’t going smoothly.
“He has not been able to do anything full speed. And anytime we get him close to that, there’s discomfort,” the coach said.
Prior to the injury, Ball averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 5.1 APG as the Bulls got off to a hot start. Ball received a four-year, $85MM contract in a sign-and-trade between Chicago and New Orleans in August.
Without him, the Bulls will continue to rely on rookie Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and Alex Caruso at the point.
Have to wonder about this training staff…how many more injuries can they rack up?
Training staff? Really? How do they stop broken bones? Most if not all have been broken bones. The only one that comes to mind is Zach and I think that’s on Donovan playing him too many minutes.
Then maybe they should look at the team nutritionist and see what kind of calcium intake these guys have. Bones shouldn’t just be breaking.
Something is up. Where there is smoke there’s fire…
Yes. Calcium. I’m sure that’s it. More milk, Lonzo.
Al or Sillivan level comment right there
You have a hard time understanding things.
Exactly. How can a training staff prevent injuries? Just the way it goes. Sometimes good luck and sometimes bad luck.
Not good news though considering Ball has a long term contract with the Bulls. Hope for both Ball and the Bull’s sake a full recovery will happen.
It more that ball injury prone than the training staff
He seemed fine on the Pelicans. How many more excuses will we hear from Bulls fans this year?
In his first years with the LAL, it seemed he was injury prone. Wates too much time wearing those BBB sneakers. Probably wasn’t good for his knees.
*Wasted too
It’s more important that he comes back healthy than quickly. Take your time Lonzo.
Agree..dont need to rush him back to the game. he is important player for bulls,especially with his defense.
He got under a month til playoffs and he isn’t even running. I would think like mid 1st round at the earliest he would be back.
He ain’t comin back this season
williams wasn’t suppsoed to be back but he is