Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has confirmed that he will miss his second consecutive NBA season due to ongoing knee rehabilitation.
Despite this setback, Ball remains optimistic about his eventual return to the court. The announcement came during his recent appearance on the “From the Point by Trae Young” podcast.
Ball, who last played in an NBA game on January 14, 2022, underwent a cartilage transplant in March, marking his third left knee surgery since signing a four-year, $80 million contract with the Bulls.
“Just taking it day by day, bro. I just had a really big surgery—hopefully, the last one I ever have to get. It’s a long process. I’m already out this whole next season,” Ball shared on the podcast.
“When I first got hurt, we didn’t really know what it was. I was seeing all types of different doctors and stuff. I was just kind of going up and down. That was really hard for me because I just didn’t know what the next day was going to be like,” he said.
Ball now feels more secure about his recovery path. “At least now, I got the surgery. We got a plan moving forward. We’ve been on plan. I’m on track. Hopefully, everything works out. I just leave it up to God and do the best I can and live with the results,” he added.
The Bulls had a promising start to Ball’s first half-season in Chicago, leading the Eastern Conference for much of the time.
However, they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in a five-game first-round playoff matchup in 2022 and failed to advance beyond the play-in tournament last season.
Reflecting on the impact of his injury, Ball expressed regret, particularly for the team’s General Manager.
“It’s going to be a big what if. For me, I feel bad just for the GM because I feel like they made the perfect team around me. And I felt like that was the most I’ve ever been involved in an organization. And I finally got the perfect team to fit my game and play my way and really just do what I wanted to do,” Ball added.
He continued, “That injury—I’m still going through it right now—that one messed me up early just because I felt like we really had a chance and never got to see what it was.”
As Ball continues his recovery, the Bulls and their fans will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting his return to the court.
