Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said guard Lonzo Ball was in town last week and he’s optimistic that his latest procedure to alleviate his pain worked, tweets NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson. Ball is still ruled out for the rest of the season but, according to Johnson, he’s progressing well and is expected to resume running by January.
“Everything they’ve done in terms of progressing him, he’s handled very well,” Donovan said, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “The pain he was experiencing that was causing the setback is eliminated in terms of what he’s doing now, but he hasn’t run.”
Ball hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 14, 2022 as he’s dealt with continuous injuries and setbacks. With his pain alleviated and physical activity soon to resume, his eventual return to the court looks more likely with this latest development.
In 35 games with the Bulls, Ball has averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists. He was acquired by Chicago in the summer of 2021 in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans. He has a player option next year for roughly $21.4MM and Cowley mentions it’s possible he returns to play sometime in the offseason or training camp, but that’s more speculation than anything.
We have more from the Central Division:
- It took some time for Bucks sharpshooter A.J. Green to find his footing in the NBA, but he finished the 2022/23 season strong and earned a guaranteed contract ahead of this year, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski writes. While Green hasn’t yet earned a permanent keep in the rotation, the Bucks can count on him to come in and hit threes when needed. “Freakin’ A.J.,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I feel like whenever he shoots the ball, the ball is going in.” Green is under contract for two seasons after this one, though both are non-guaranteed.
- Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made significant changes to the team’s starting lineup in their Tuesday game against the Bulls, moving Buddy Hield and Obi Toppin to the bench for Aaron Nesmith and Jalen Smith, respectively, IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak observes. Andrew Nembhard also started in place of the injured Bruce Brown. The Pacers, who had previously lost six of their last seven, defeated the Rockets 123-117 with their new lineup.
- After finishing his collegiate career tied fifth for wins in Houston’s program history, Marcus Sasser is having to adjust as the Pistons suffer through a 28-game losing streak, tied for the longest in NBA history, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle writes. However, Sasser has been able to turn to his former college coach Kelvin Sampson for advice this year, according to Duarte. “I worry about him in his first year,” Sampson said. “But at the same time, you get paid for this, man. Suck it up, you’ll be all right.“
“Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball underwent a third surgery on his left knee and will be out indefinitely. Ball required a cartilage transplant, which is a very rare procedure in the sports world. No NBA player has undergone a cartilage transplant and returned to the court.Mar 21, 2023“
The odds are he will never be the player he was or could have been, in his case. He can change his game and still be effective. But Bulls need more than that. Bulls should be planning for life without Ball. In todays game as we’ve seen many times now. Players will just take the money and run. No Bernard Kings around anymore.
Immanuel Quickley !!!!
Don’t put stock into that statement no one has had this surgery and returned to the court. This is a radically rare surgery and one that is new in the medical field. I’m not sure any player has undergone this surgery. Instead of trying to repair existing cartilage, which didn’t work for Lonzo twice and often doesn’t return a player to what they were, they are going the route of grouping new cartilage.
If it works, he could be as good as new. The pain free part is great to hear. 10 months until the next season. Huge hurdle with how running goes. If he passes that, then he will need lots of weight training and then eventually sprinting and cutting will be the last major hurdle before court action.
I have a lot of optimism but the running part is going to be the biggest tell whether this comeback is real. If he’s running pain free and looking good, then yeah, this bodes well for his comeback and this kind of surgery.
You should look up the surgery. Normal people are never the same again. So you think a guy who pounds the knee. And stops and goes, changes direction at full speed. Is going to be the same. His career is over. He’s not a Mamba mentality kind of guy. Only idiots wouldn’t prepare for the worst here. And billionaire owners are not going to depend on miracles.
Ball is going to opt into that last year of contract.
Even if he plays majority of the games next year, I would imagine a team only gives him a small MLE.
Respectfully disagree. It’s the NBA…always someone willing to fling big $$$s.
Not for a guy with one leg. Penny Hardaway stole money on his last contract. Teams are dumb at times. But they aren’t stupid. I would buy him out.
Ball was the best player on the Bulls up until his injury. His defense was nearly league best, as was his open court vision and 3pt shooting. They were leading the East on 01/14/22, really dominant. My guess is that Ball recovers and remains a Bull next year, then is extended along with DeRozan. Clearly, AK is not going to move on from that potential but double down.
You should also research that operation. It’s over ……
When your dad is a dodgy salesman it pays to wear someone else’s shoes…
This type pf surgery makes Ball’s outlook bleak; however, if they can get ANYTHING even resembling his old self it should be considered a major W.
EVEN still, I kinda doubt he’ll ever even be able to play again, sadly.