Chicago Bulls’ Ball Doubtful for Start of NBA Season

Lonzo Ball with UCLA in 2017
Lonzo Ball with UCLA in 2017. Photo by Peter Joneleit/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (8451262c)

The Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will miss the remainder of his team’s training camp and looks set to miss the start of the NBA season due to the aftereffects of his meniscus surgery. The player underwent surgery in January and has continued to experience lingering pain and discomfort in his left knee as a result.

Ball is expected to arrive in Chicago next week, where he will undergo evaluation by the Bulls’ medical team. He is, however, not expected to partake in any physical activities on the field.

“He’s getting better, probably not at the speed that we would like,” Bulls Vice President Arturas Karnisovas revealed during a broadcast for one of the team’s summer leagues in July.

While initially expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks, Ball’s knee didn’t respond well to attempts by the medical team to increase his on-court activity in an attempt to bring the player back into action.

Before incurring his knee injury, Ball enjoyed a promising start to his NBA campaign with Chicago last year, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. The 25-year-old player underwent a procedure to repair a meniscus tear in the same knee in 2018.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.