The situation between the Chicago Bulls and Lonzo Ball just got a whole lot more concerning. According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, the 2017 second-overall pick will undergo arthroscopic debridement on his left knee, the same knee he had surgery on earlier this year.
The procedure looks to remove the broken down cartilage and tissues that would help him get back to form. The Bulls announced Ball’s surgery nine days after multiple reports stated he would miss the beginning of the season due to injury. Chicago will further evaluate him in 4-6 weeks to see if there’s any progress.
Ball has dealt with several nagging injuries since his arrival to the League, but none look more complicated than this one on his left knee. On Jan. 20, the Bulls’ starting point guard was found to have a bone bruise and small meniscus tear on his left knee after a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, resulting in the surgery he had during last season.
Chicago had hoped that Ball would be able to make progress in the four-month span between his diagnosis and the playoffs. However, Ball struggled to put weight on the knee, resulting in extra rehabilitation and a season-ending announcement before the series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The gentleman’s sweep in favor of Milwaukee led to many headlines around Chicago as to what could have happened if the Bulls could’ve deployed Ball’s elite playmaking and defending. He questioned that himself as well and knew that his play would generate at least some good end to the Bulls, as he said in a press conference.
“Every time you watch the game, you feel like you can leave an impact on the game. I feel like my shooting could’ve for sure helped. And also obviously defensively versus the guys they have on the other side that are All-Stars.”
When Ball’s recovery timeline is up, the Bulls and their medical staff will determine the best course of action. Before he was injured, Chicago was a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference, without him they finished with the sixth-best record in the East.
