The Chicago Bulls are creeping closer to shutting down point guard Lonzo Ball for a second straight season.
, when he suffered a small tear in the MCL in his right knee. That has spiraled into an increasingly confounding injury requiring two surgical procedures and continuing to cause him pain.
If updates on Ball’s recovery feel like recycled news, it’s not your imagination. , and Donovan’s updates on Ball are a repetition of the same facts he has provided for months.
“It’s something that I’ve never dealt with,” Ball said. “Even the doctors are a little surprised about it. We’re all working together to figure this thing out.’
Ball’s extended absence also deepens the team’s uncertainty for his timeline to return to the starting lineup. After nine months without being able to shoot a basketball, it’s unclear how quickly the point guard will be able to snap back into game shape.
“He’s a good team guy and he clearly makes our team better,” coach Billy Donovan said. “But let’s say the surgery is a complete success and everything’s great and he’s pain free … You’ve still got a player who’s been out for nine months. It’s not like in three weeks, if surgery is successful, you can just throw him back out there and play.”
Timeline of Lonzo Ball’s knee injury
Jan. 14, 2022: Ball suffers meniscus tear against the Golden State Warriors.
Jan 20: Bulls and anticipate a six- to eight-week recovery before he can return to the court.
Feb. 21: Ball posts a video on Instagram of himself dancing and playing with his daughter, which falsely appears to signal his increased mobility as he nears the end of the recovery window.
Mar 19: Coach Billy Donovan , complicated by a bone bruise suffered before to the meniscus tear.
Mar 20: Donovan says in an attempt to reduce knee swelling.
April 5: , but Donovan says the team won’t shut him down.
April 6: The Bulls . Donovan says the Bulls medical staff hasn’t suggested a second surgery.
July 12: Executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas but adds the Bulls hope he will be available for training camp.
Sept. 28: , forcing him to miss training camp and the opening weeks of the season. Bulls set a four- to six-week recovery window from the procedure, but Donovan cautions his recovery could take longer after 10 months away from the court.
Oct. 26: Ball is nearing reevaluation after the second surgery on his left knee, but for the next step in the point guard’s recovery.
Nov. 30: Nine weeks after his second knee procedure, . He has returned to the weight room at the Advocate Center for moderate weightlifting and core exercises, but he hasn’t played basketball or run at full speed since January.
Jan. 28, 2023: Lonzo Ball is for discussion on shutting down his season
Feb. 2: in his son’s recovery. ‘Lonzo is going to be fine,’ he says of the Bulls guard on a podcat.
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