There are reports that Lonzo Ball’s knee injury could keep him out for the entire 2023–24 NBA season.
Ball will be out indefinitely after the Chicago Bulls announced on Thursday that he would have cartilage transplant surgery on his left knee.
While “the sides are hopeful of the process reviving Ball’s career,” Ball will miss “most, if not all, of the 2023-24 season,” as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Ball addressed the recent surgery in a statement and emphasized his determination to return to the court.
My priority has been to get healthy enough to play basketball again with my team. This has been a difficult ordeal, but I know what I’m about to do is right. The encouragement I’ve received from my loved ones, friends, and fans, as well as the professionals who have helped me during my recovery, has been a driving force. I’ve been waiting to get back to doing what I love: playing basketball, so I can finally say, “I’m back!”
Ever since January of 2022, Lonzo Ball has been out of action
Chicago signed and traded for the point guard from the New Orleans Pelicans before the 2021-22 season, giving them a four-year, $85 million deal.
He started all but one of the team’s 35 games, totaling 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 42.3% from deep and providing crucial floor distance for stars like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
The Bulls were a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference and even reached the top seed. He was expected to return in time for the playoffs, but his knee injury ended hopes of that happening.
In April of 2022, the team announced he would no longer be playing due to “pain with high-level physical activity” following surgery. In September, things took a turn for the worse when he underwent additional surgery, though he was supposed to be reevaluated in four to six weeks, with the hope that he would play in 2022-23.
To the contrary, Ball has told reporters he can’t even climb a flight of stairs without experiencing pain.
The 25-year-old was once a promising star who could significantly impact the game in various ways, so he can’t imagine how devastating it is to be sidelined for the entire 2023-24 season.
As for the Bulls, they could be stronger with DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic because of the Ball situation. At 31–37, they are in the thick of the playoff battle for the Eastern Conference.
Final Thoughts
It’s always difficult to see a promising player suffer a career-altering injury, and Lonzo Ball’s situation is no exception. While there is hope that his upcoming surgery will revive his career, the news that he may miss most of the 2023-24 season is certainly concerning.
The NBA Updates Chicago Bulls, who acquired Ball in a sign-and-trade deal before the 2021-22 season, will undoubtedly miss his contributions on the court. With the team currently in the thick of the playoff battle for the Eastern Conference, his absence will be felt as they strive to make a postseason run.
As Ball undergoes surgery and works towards recovery, it’s clear that his passion for the game of basketball remains unwavering. While it remains to be seen how his career will progress, his determination to return to the court is admirable.
