The Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball isn’t thinking of retiring despite still dealing with a knee injury that kept him sidelined for almost two years. Speaking with reporters during Bulls’ media day on Tuesday, Ball reiterated his intention to continue playing basketball.

“I definitely plan on playing again,” Ball said. “I’m only 25, I feel like the rehab process has been going well so far. No setbacks. So for me it’s just keeping my head up, just keep doing the work.”

Ball suffered a meniscus tear in January 2022 and had to undergo surgery that ruled him out for the rest of the 2021-22 season. The former second-overall pick missed the entire 2022-23 campaign, having two more surgeries on the same knee. The Bulls also indicated that they expect him to sit out the upcoming season as well.

“Rehab’s been long. Feels like every day is almost the same. I’m getting better each week, and that’s all I can ask for,” Ball added.

Ball arrived in Chicago ahead of the 2021-22 season and only managed to play 35 games in a Bulls jersey. The 25-year-old player played well before suffering an injury, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. 

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The Chicago Bulls announced that their point guard Lonzo Ball is set to undergo surgery next week to address an issue in his left knee. This will be the second procedure for Ball this year on the same knee.

According to the Bulls, Ball will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

Ball initially had left knee surgery back in January to repair a torn meniscus. The 24-year-old was ruled out for eight weeks at the time but ended up missing the remainder of the season. Reportedly, Ball continued to feel discomfort, which persisted throughout the summer.

Before going down with the injury, Ball had a solid season that saw him average 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He was also averaging a career-best 42.3 percent from the three-point line.

This isn’t the first time that Lonzo Ball has had issues with the same knee. After his rookie season, which he spent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Ball underwent left knee surgery, also for a torn meniscus. The rehab process went well that time, and he managed to return for training camp.  

It is almost certain that Ball won’t be back on the floor for the start of the 2022-23 NBA  season this time. Considering that he will only be re-evaluated in a month, he is scheduled to miss the season opener and more. 

The post Bulls’ Lonzo Ball Set to Have Another Surgery on His Left Knee appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that Lonzo Ball doesn’t hold a grudge against the New Orleans Pelicans despite the franchise failing to give him a new deal and reportedly offering him in trade talks ahead of the trade deadline.

During a recent chat with reporters, Ball said that he “would love to be back” with the Pelicans next season and beyond.

“I built a bond here with the coaches and the teammates who are here,” added Ball, who is set to enter restricted free agency this offseason. “I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back at all.”

His teammate Zion Williamson would also like to continue playing with Ball. According to Williamson, he, Ball, and fellow All-Star Brandon Ingram have a great relationship that can continue growing.

“But you know, like I said, the reality of the situation is Zo is a grown man, so he’ll make the decision that’s best for him,” said Williamson. “The only thing I can say is, I hope he stays.”

Ball arguably had his best season as a pro in 2020-21, scoring career-high 14.6 points per contest and adding 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists. But this reportedly didn’t help relieve the doubts that the Pelicans have about his game and his future with the franchise.

New Orleans can keep Lonzo Ball by hammering out a deal before he hits the free agency or by matching any offer he receives from another team. Whether that happens will most likely depend on the type of contract he is asking for. If the price gets too high, expect the Pelicans to bow out as they need to keep their cap flexibility in order to continue building around Williamson.

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The New Orleans Pelicans had high hopes for the 2020-21 NBA season, but it looks like the slow start of the season has got them to lower their expectations. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans are looking to be sellers on the trade market in the coming weeks, with Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick being among the available players.

Charania reports that New Orleans has received several calls about the availability of Ball and Redick in recent days and responded positively to them. The team showed “openness” to discussing trade scenarios with interested parties, and the duo might be moved before the trade deadline if the right offer comes.

Besides having a poor start to the season, there are several other reasons why the Pelicans are interested in trading these players.

Lonzo Ball is set to be a restricted free agent next offseason, which puts the team in danger of losing him for nothing if the 23-year-old point guard receives an offer they are not comfortable with matching. Also, Ball has not been playing very well this season, averaging 12 points, a career-low 3.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and shooting just 29.1 from the three-point arc.

JJ Redick, on the other hand, is a respected shooter around the NBA and could bring in some valuable assets for the future if the team can’t compete at the moment. By moving on from Redick, the Pelicans could also give more minutes to their young guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis.

Redick also hasn’t been on his usual level in 2020-21, averaging only 8.1 points per game.

The post Pelicans Looking to Trade Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Lonzo Ball entered the league with a lot of hype as the Los Angeles Lakers’ second overall pick in 2017 NBA Draft, but it’s safe to say that he is still to meet these expectations. However, he will have an opportunity to make a better impression with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he arrived as part of Anthony Davis’s trade.

Ball’s first two seasons in the league were marked by injuries and inconsistency, but he now joins a talented young team in New Orleans, where he can finally have a breakthrough. It seems like the 21-year-old is aware of this, as he recently called his trade to Pelicans “good news.”

“You probably heard the news. It’s good news in my opinion,” – said Ball in a video posted on Facebook, which was his first public comment since the trade took place. “Melo had a game today. He did good. I got traded. That was good. Now we’re going to be taking the show to New Orleans and turning up out there.”

Lonzo Ball was expected to be one of the building blocks of the new Lakers, and had a solid rookie season in NBA, averaging 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game, even though he had an abysmal shot percentage of 36.0. Ball showed flashes of improvement in his sophomore season, but injuries limited him to only 47 games, and he ended up having a statistically even worse year.

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Chicago Bulls have an exciting young core of players in Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Wendell Carter Jr. but the consensus is that they lack a quality point guard that can orchestrate their offense.

The Bulls hoped that they will address that need in the draft, but after falling to No.7 pick in the lottery, the team reportedly shifted their attention to exploring trade options. The name that came up: Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball.

According to Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson, Bulls consider Ball to be an “intriguing” point guard who is team-oriented, defensive-minded and has a pass-first instinct.

Joe Cowley of Chicago Sun-Times confirms Chicago’s interest in the 21-year-old, reporting that Bulls and Lakers already had initial conversations about the player in the past.

Bulls are encouraged by the fact that Los Angeles Lakers intend to pursue New Orleans Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis and would be interested in acquiring the assets to push the deal through. Since Lonzo Ball would also be available in the trade with Pelicans, Chicago is considering swooping in and offering Lakers a package that could intrigue New Orleans more than Ball.

Although Ball struggled in his first two years in the league, he is still viewed as a significant talent with exciting upside. He played 47 games in 2018/19 NBA season and averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

The post Chicago Bulls Could Be Interested in Lakers’ Lonzo Ball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery to his left knee, the team has announced on Wednesday. Ball, who was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, is expected to recover in time for the start of the 2018-19 training camp.

MEDICAL UPDATE: Lakers guard Lonzo Ball had successful arthroscopic surgery to his left knee today.

Ball is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the 2018-19 training camp. pic.twitter.com/xUD7XdM3lf

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 17, 2018

Lonzo Ball considered several options to deal with a torn meniscus in his knee including resting for a month or getting a platelet-rich plasma injection treatment. He eventually decided to go with the surgery, hoping to resolve the issue so he could be ready once the new season starts.

“I know he’s evaluating with his management team a number of things,” – said Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka recently about Ball’s injury. “The good news is all the things they’re evaluating as his options have him 100 percent ready for training camp … We’re just excited to know he’s going to be 100 percent available for training camp.”

Lonzo Ball doesn’t have a great season behind him, considering how high he was picked in the draft, but he still managed to contribute 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He will, however, have to step up this season considering that the Lakers have big ambition after acquiring LeBron James. One of the big changes compared to last year will be the fact that Ball will finally have a proper challenger for the starting spot since Rajon Rondo came to Los Angeles in the free agency.

The post Lakers’ Lonzo Ball Undergoes Successful Arthroscopic Surgery on His Left Knee appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball continues to struggle, his father LaVar decided to blame the team for his son’s poor performances. Speaking for Bleacher Report, LaVar Ball said that the Lakers don’t know how to coach his son and that he does.

“They’re soft. They don’t know how to coach my son. I know how to coach him,” LaVar said. “I tell him to go get the victory. Stop messing around.“

Although his rebound and assists stats are more than respectable (more than 7 per game) Ball was shooting awfully in his first 19 games of the regular season. His 31.5% from the game and 25.0% for 3 points are among the worst in the entire league. LaVar’s solution for this is simple. The Lakers need to have less patience with Lonzo and go hard on him.

“What I mean by babying [Lonzo], ‘He’ll figure it out,‘” Ball said. “It ain’t about that. ‘Be patient with him?’ Ain’t no patience if you’re winning. They’re letting it go too easy, saying they’re a young team. Forget about that! Put the [onus] on them. Say, ‘You guys need to win. You’ve got enough talent. Win some games.‘”

It isn’t strange for LaVar Ball to freely speak out his mind and give comments like these. During the time Lonzo was a freshman on UCLA, Ball didn’t hesitate to criticize the coaching alongside giving bold statements like the one that his son is “better than Stephen Curry.”

Lonzo, on the other hand, will probably find some consistency in his game and his shot as well, considering he is a rookie in a very competitive league. He might not be the next Jason Kidd or Magic Johnson, which Lakers hoped him to be when they drafted him 2nd overall in 2017 NBA draft, but he will be good enough.

The post Lonzo Ball’s Father LaVar says the LA Lakers “don’t know how to coach” His Son appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball isn’t thinking of retiring despite still dealing with a knee injury that kept him sidelined for almost two years. Speaking with reporters during Bulls’ media day on Tuesday, Ball reiterated his intention to continue playing basketball.

“I definitely plan on playing again,” Ball said. “I’m only 25, I feel like the rehab process has been going well so far. No setbacks. So for me it’s just keeping my head up, just keep doing the work.”

Ball suffered a meniscus tear in January 2022 and had to undergo surgery that ruled him out for the rest of the 2021-22 season. The former second-overall pick missed the entire 2022-23 campaign, having two more surgeries on the same knee. The Bulls also indicated that they expect him to sit out the upcoming season as well.

“Rehab’s been long. Feels like every day is almost the same. I’m getting better each week, and that’s all I can ask for,” Ball added.

Ball arrived in Chicago ahead of the 2021-22 season and only managed to play 35 games in a Bulls jersey. The 25-year-old player played well before suffering an injury, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The post Bulls’ Lonzo Ball: “I Definitely Plan on Playing Again” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Chicago Bulls announced that their point guard Lonzo Ball is set to undergo surgery next week to address an issue in his left knee. This will be the second procedure for Ball this year on the same knee.

According to the Bulls, Ball will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

Ball initially had left knee surgery back in January to repair a torn meniscus. The 24-year-old was ruled out for eight weeks at the time but ended up missing the remainder of the season. Reportedly, Ball continued to feel discomfort, which persisted throughout the summer.

Before going down with the injury, Ball had a solid season that saw him average 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He was also averaging a career-best 42.3 percent from the three-point line.

This isn’t the first time that Lonzo Ball has had issues with the same knee. After his rookie season, which he spent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Ball underwent left knee surgery, also for a torn meniscus. The rehab process went well that time, and he managed to return for training camp.  

It is almost certain that Ball won’t be back on the floor for the start of the 2022-23 NBA  season this time. Considering that he will only be re-evaluated in a month, he is scheduled to miss the season opener and more. 

The post Bulls’ Lonzo Ball Set to Have Another Surgery on His Left Knee appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that Lonzo Ball doesn’t hold a grudge against the New Orleans Pelicans despite the franchise failing to give him a new deal and reportedly offering him in trade talks ahead of the trade deadline.

During a recent chat with reporters, Ball said that he “would love to be back” with the Pelicans next season and beyond.

“I built a bond here with the coaches and the teammates who are here,” added Ball, who is set to enter restricted free agency this offseason. “I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back at all.”

His teammate Zion Williamson would also like to continue playing with Ball. According to Williamson, he, Ball, and fellow All-Star Brandon Ingram have a great relationship that can continue growing.

“But you know, like I said, the reality of the situation is Zo is a grown man, so he’ll make the decision that’s best for him,” said Williamson. “The only thing I can say is, I hope he stays.”

Ball arguably had his best season as a pro in 2020-21, scoring career-high 14.6 points per contest and adding 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists. But this reportedly didn’t help relieve the doubts that the Pelicans have about his game and his future with the franchise.

New Orleans can keep Lonzo Ball by hammering out a deal before he hits the free agency or by matching any offer he receives from another team. Whether that happens will most likely depend on the type of contract he is asking for. If the price gets too high, expect the Pelicans to bow out as they need to keep their cap flexibility in order to continue building around Williamson.

The post Lonzo Ball “Would Love To Be Back” with the Pelicans Next Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New Orleans Pelicans had high hopes for the 2020-21 NBA season, but it looks like the slow start of the season has got them to lower their expectations. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans are looking to be sellers on the trade market in the coming weeks, with Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick being among the available players.

Charania reports that New Orleans has received several calls about the availability of Ball and Redick in recent days and responded positively to them. The team showed “openness” to discussing trade scenarios with interested parties, and the duo might be moved before the trade deadline if the right offer comes.

Besides having a poor start to the season, there are several other reasons why the Pelicans are interested in trading these players.

Lonzo Ball is set to be a restricted free agent next offseason, which puts the team in danger of losing him for nothing if the 23-year-old point guard receives an offer they are not comfortable with matching. Also, Ball has not been playing very well this season, averaging 12 points, a career-low 3.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and shooting just 29.1 from the three-point arc.

JJ Redick, on the other hand, is a respected shooter around the NBA and could bring in some valuable assets for the future if the team can’t compete at the moment. By moving on from Redick, the Pelicans could also give more minutes to their young guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis.

Redick also hasn’t been on his usual level in 2020-21, averaging only 8.1 points per game.

The post Pelicans Looking to Trade Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Lonzo Ball entered the league with a lot of hype as the Los Angeles Lakers’ second overall pick in 2017 NBA Draft, but it’s safe to say that he is still to meet these expectations. However, he will have an opportunity to make a better impression with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he arrived as part of Anthony Davis’s trade.

Ball’s first two seasons in the league were marked by injuries and inconsistency, but he now joins a talented young team in New Orleans, where he can finally have a breakthrough. It seems like the 21-year-old is aware of this, as he recently called his trade to Pelicans “good news.”

“You probably heard the news. It’s good news in my opinion,” – said Ball in a video posted on Facebook, which was his first public comment since the trade took place. “Melo had a game today. He did good. I got traded. That was good. Now we’re going to be taking the show to New Orleans and turning up out there.”

Lonzo Ball was expected to be one of the building blocks of the new Lakers, and had a solid rookie season in NBA, averaging 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game, even though he had an abysmal shot percentage of 36.0. Ball showed flashes of improvement in his sophomore season, but injuries limited him to only 47 games, and he ended up having a statistically even worse year.

The post Lonzo Ball Says Being Traded to Pelicans is “Good News” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Chicago Bulls have an exciting young core of players in Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Wendell Carter Jr. but the consensus is that they lack a quality point guard that can orchestrate their offense.

The Bulls hoped that they will address that need in the draft, but after falling to No.7 pick in the lottery, the team reportedly shifted their attention to exploring trade options. The name that came up: Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball.

According to Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson, Bulls consider Ball to be an “intriguing” point guard who is team-oriented, defensive-minded and has a pass-first instinct.

Joe Cowley of Chicago Sun-Times confirms Chicago’s interest in the 21-year-old, reporting that Bulls and Lakers already had initial conversations about the player in the past.

Bulls are encouraged by the fact that Los Angeles Lakers intend to pursue New Orleans Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis and would be interested in acquiring the assets to push the deal through. Since Lonzo Ball would also be available in the trade with Pelicans, Chicago is considering swooping in and offering Lakers a package that could intrigue New Orleans more than Ball.

Although Ball struggled in his first two years in the league, he is still viewed as a significant talent with exciting upside. He played 47 games in 2018/19 NBA season and averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

The post Chicago Bulls Could Be Interested in Lakers’ Lonzo Ball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery to his left knee, the team has announced on Wednesday. Ball, who was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, is expected to recover in time for the start of the 2018-19 training camp.

MEDICAL UPDATE: Lakers guard Lonzo Ball had successful arthroscopic surgery to his left knee today.

Ball is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the 2018-19 training camp. pic.twitter.com/xUD7XdM3lf

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 17, 2018

Lonzo Ball considered several options to deal with a torn meniscus in his knee including resting for a month or getting a platelet-rich plasma injection treatment. He eventually decided to go with the surgery, hoping to resolve the issue so he could be ready once the new season starts.

“I know he’s evaluating with his management team a number of things,” – said Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka recently about Ball’s injury. “The good news is all the things they’re evaluating as his options have him 100 percent ready for training camp … We’re just excited to know he’s going to be 100 percent available for training camp.”

Lonzo Ball doesn’t have a great season behind him, considering how high he was picked in the draft, but he still managed to contribute 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He will, however, have to step up this season considering that the Lakers have big ambition after acquiring LeBron James. One of the big changes compared to last year will be the fact that Ball will finally have a proper challenger for the starting spot since Rajon Rondo came to Los Angeles in the free agency.

The post Lakers’ Lonzo Ball Undergoes Successful Arthroscopic Surgery on His Left Knee appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball continues to struggle, his father LaVar decided to blame the team for his son’s poor performances. Speaking for Bleacher Report, LaVar Ball said that the Lakers don’t know how to coach his son and that he does.

“They’re soft. They don’t know how to coach my son. I know how to coach him,” LaVar said. “I tell him to go get the victory. Stop messing around.“

Although his rebound and assists stats are more than respectable (more than 7 per game) Ball was shooting awfully in his first 19 games of the regular season. His 31.5% from the game and 25.0% for 3 points are among the worst in the entire league. LaVar’s solution for this is simple. The Lakers need to have less patience with Lonzo and go hard on him.

“What I mean by babying [Lonzo], ‘He’ll figure it out,‘” Ball said. “It ain’t about that. ‘Be patient with him?’ Ain’t no patience if you’re winning. They’re letting it go too easy, saying they’re a young team. Forget about that! Put the [onus] on them. Say, ‘You guys need to win. You’ve got enough talent. Win some games.‘”

It isn’t strange for LaVar Ball to freely speak out his mind and give comments like these. During the time Lonzo was a freshman on UCLA, Ball didn’t hesitate to criticize the coaching alongside giving bold statements like the one that his son is “better than Stephen Curry.”

Lonzo, on the other hand, will probably find some consistency in his game and his shot as well, considering he is a rookie in a very competitive league. He might not be the next Jason Kidd or Magic Johnson, which Lakers hoped him to be when they drafted him 2nd overall in 2017 NBA draft, but he will be good enough.

The post Lonzo Ball’s Father LaVar says the LA Lakers “don’t know how to coach” His Son appeared first on SportzBonanza.