Sidelined from basketball duties for over 8 months now with no end in sight, it was beginning to feel like the saga of Lonzo Ball‘s injury recuperation was never going to end. Fortunately, it appears there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Chicago Bulls following Ball’s surgical procedure on Wednesday.
Although the Bulls initially intended to allow Lonzo a natural healing process over the summer, more immediate action had to be taken once the point guard was showing no progress and still experiencing daily pain. He underwent a second operation on his knee in hopes of returning to basketball activities as soon as possible.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the preliminary response to the procedure was successful and they believe he will be able to return at some point before the end of the 2022-23 season.
Sources: There is confidence in Bulls guard Lonzo Ball's ability to return this season following left knee surgery on Wednesday that doctors believe addressed the issue. Ball is expected to miss at least a few months.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 29, 2022
After a long span of no updates from Lonzo Ball’s camp, the Chicago Bulls should be happy to learn they will get their PG back sometime this season.
That being said, Ball has a good head on his shoulders and is considering the situation carefully. He’s expressed that he’s in no rush to return, and will instead ensure he can be fully healthy and continue on to have a long and successful career. “I know I’m going in with the best doctors,” says Ball, “I’ve got 100 percent confidence in them and I think I’m going to be back to normal.”
This does seem like the best plan of action, as Ball being able to finish out his contract and continue being a productive piece of Chicago’s young core is far more important than short-term success in any single season. It also means the Bulls will get to see what they’re really working with as Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, and the recently signed Goran Dragic all step up into bigger roles in the meantime.
Chicago’s backcourt trio will hold down the fort at the point until Ball is prepared to return, while Zach LaVine and Coby White are set to man the two-guard slot. Don’t be mistaken, Lonzo is absolutely critical to this team’s ability to become true contenders, but there are certainly worse backcourts around the league even with Ball sidelined.
If he’s back up and ready to play before the postseason rolls back around, the Bulls may be a true dark horse in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The hard part now will simply be getting there in the first place.