NBA Rumors: After his most recent knee procedure, there’s hope Lonzo Ball can return this season for the Chicago Bulls.
After sputtering in the playoffs last season, the hope was that the Chicago Bulls would be able to start the 2022-23 NBA season will a full bill of health. Unfortunately, that is not going to be the case.
However, there’s a chance that it can be the case later this season. But all that revolves around Lonzo Ball’s knee at the moment. After undergoing a second knee procedure, the Bulls are hoping that Ball is able to return and play at some point this 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
Lonzo Ball’s recent knee procedure went well
Even though the second procedure went well, that’s no guarantee.
His rehab process was not progressing as the team hoped and there weren’t many other options on the table for Ball. It’s far from an ideal situation, but considering everything that has happened over the last few months, this has to be considered the best possible situation.
It’s far better than hearing that Ball would be shut down for the entire season and hope that he could return a year from now. But at this point, it’s one big waiting game.
Last season with a healthy Ball, the Bulls were one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. When healthy last season, Ball averaged 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He was a clear difference-maker for the team and it was clear that when he was out due to injury, the Bulls were not the same.
Even if Ball does return this season, there’s the question of whether or not he’ll even be the same player. But that’s a bridge that Ball and the Bulls will have to cross at another time. For now, the goal is to simply get Ball back on the court.