Lonzo Ball, the Chicago Bulls’ star point guard, told NBCSports Chicago via Zoom call on Tuesday that he is still unable to participate in training camp this week due to a knee injury.
Ball had arthroscopic surgery on January 28 and still has pain in the area when doing simple things like walking upstairs, running, or jumping.
“Literally, I really can’t run. I can’t run or jump,” Ball said. “There’s a range from, like, 30 to 60 degrees when my knee is bent that I have, like, no force and I can’t, like, catch myself. Until I can do those things, I can’t play.”
“I did rehab, it was getting better, but it was not to a point where I could get out there and run full speed or jump. So surgery is the next step.”
LIVE: Lonzo Ball Media Availability https://t.co/3p4eExudsC
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 27, 2022
Ball’s second surgery
The 24-year-old missed the final two months of the 2021-22 NBA season. The Bulls struggled after Ball’s first surgery, finishing 19-23. Ball will undergo his second surgery on Wednesday and will be evaluated in 4-6 weeks, implying that he will not be ready to begin the season.
“From my understanding, they’re going in there to see what it is because it’s not necessarily showing up on the MRI,” Ball said. “But it’s clear that there’s something there that’s not right. So they’re going to go in, look at it, and whatever needs to be done is going to be done.’’
He was an important part of the team’s early success in his first season in Chicago, helping the Bulls to a 27-13 record. Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from deep in 35 games last season.
“The plan this whole summer was to stay out of the surgery, but at this point, this is all that’s left,” Ball said. “It’s something that has to be done. I know I’m going in with the best doctors, so I’ve got 100% confidence in them and I think I’m going to be back to normal.”
Lonzo Ball doesn't anticipate that his knee injury will keep him out all season. He expects to return this season but isn't sure when.
He calls missing the season a "worst-case scenario."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) September 27, 2022
Bulls point guard roster
With Ball scheduled to have another surgery this week, Bulls coach Billy Donovan wants to see how his team performs in training camp before deciding on a point guard replacement.
“Anytime you lose a good player, it’s always challenging,” Donovan said. “Lonzo is obviously a terrific player. The injuries are a part of it. I think because of last year we had a lot of different guys at that spot.”
“Ayo [Dosunmu] played there quite a bit. So did Coby [White], so did Alex Caruso. Adding Goran [Dragić] right now gives us a really good veteran there. I think we’ll have to see how these guys gel and mesh once training camp starts and we start practicing.”
Dragić has a career scoring average of 13.7 points, a season assist average of 7.4 assists, and is a high-level three-point shooter, shooting 37 percent in his career but he only managed to shoot 25 percent for the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets last season.