Author: Monojit Mandal
Lonzo Ball, the Chicago Bulls player who missed the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to a knee injury, is also unlikely to return next season, according to Artras Karniovas, executive vice president of basketball operations. Karniovas broke the news during a press conference after the NBA draw on Thursday.
Ball has been out of action since January 2022, when he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. However, the rehabilitation process was hampered by prolonged discomfort, resulting in a new operation in March this year. This last operation left him out for the rest of the season.
Ball’s career has been hampered by injuries since his arrival in Chicago, despite being heralded as one of the league’s most promising young prospects after being selected as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 25-year-old only played 35 games after being traded to the Bulls by the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the 2021 season. Despite receiving a hefty four-year, $85 million contract, Ball failed to live up to expectations due to ongoing knee problems.
The former All-Pac 12 first team player’s future suddenly looks bleak. This is his third knee operation, and Ball once revealed that he suffered from agony when climbing stairs.
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In a statement after his most recent operation, Ball said that his main goal is to get back to playing and reunite with his teammates. He acknowledged the challenging nature of his rehabilitation journey, but expressed faith in the path he had chosen. Ball also thanked his family, friends, fans and medical team for their constant support during his recovery and hopes to return to the sport he loves most.
When Ball was active in the early stages of the 2021-22 season, the Bulls showed great potential as an Eastern Conference contender. They even reached first place before his injury slowed their progress.
That season, Ball showed off his skills, averaging 13 points per game, 5.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Remarkably, he hit 42.3% of his shots from the field and 42.3% of his shots from beyond the arc, both career records.
Ball’s first objective now is simply to get back on the court, with a return to his previous level of performance being a secondary concern.
Lonzo Ball, who is 6’9″ and weighs 200 pounds, is a point guard for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. Ball, who was born on October 27, 1997, in Anaheim, California, was a basketball player for the UCLA Bruins.
The Los Angeles Lakers chose Ball as the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He played with the Lakers for two seasons before being transferred to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. He was then transferred again in 2021, this time to the Chicago Bulls.
Ball is known for his passing skills, defensive talents and rebounding power, all of which are unusual for a point guard. Although he has shown decent shooting ability, his three-point shooting has improved significantly in recent seasons.
Ball has averaged 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in his NBA career. He was also named to the NBA’s second defensive team on one occasion.