CHICAGO – The last time Lonzo Ball stepped on an NBA floor was January 14, 2022. Fourteen months later, the Bulls guard is facing the possibility of having a third surgery on his left knee so he can play at full strength next season.
After coming off the court in pain during that game against the Golden State Warriors, Ball was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a meniscus tear in his left knee, requiring arthroscopic surgery to fix the tear. A couple months afterwards, he was doing running drills and lifting weights, a positive sign that he could be back on the court sooner than expected. Nine days later, his rehab process was stopped after he experienced serious discomfort in his knee while running on the court, officially crushing any possibility of him returning to Chicago for the 2021-22 season.
It was a devastating loss for the Bulls organization. When Ball was on the floor, Chicago was sixth in points per game off turnovers. Ball was top 10 in the league in transition assists and shot a career-high 42.3% from 3 on 7.4 attempts per game, anchoring Chicago’s 3-point shooting throughout the season. The Bulls did not take many 3-pointers, but they had the highest make percentage in the league at 38.6%.
Without Lonzo on the floor, Chicago took a massive drop to 26th in points per game off turnovers and could not maintain their strong 3-point shooting as they started making them with the 22nd-most frequency. This would see the Bulls finish the season with a first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks.
During the offseason, Ball underwent a second surgery on his left knee to try and find a solution to the continuous knee pain he was feeling, ultimately sidelining him for the entire 2022-23 season. The Bulls currently sit at 30-36 with the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the 10th seed Washington Wizards, and two games out of a play-in spot.
With Ball on the floor, the Bulls are a much better basketball team, so if this third surgery will help him get back on the court and reduce any severe injuries from happening in the future, then he needs to do what is best for his future. This third surgery would likely sideline him for the next six months, and they cannot waste too much time, or else Ball runs the risk of missing the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
The Chicago Bulls and Ball’s representatives from Klutch Sports are actively consulting with medical specialists before coming to a final verdict on the surgery.
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