Bulls’ Lonzo Ball At ‘Standstill,’ To Visit Knee Specialist Soon

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is at a “standstill” with his left knee rehab and intends to see a specialist next week, he told reporters, via KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Ball said he is still experiencing pain in the knee after experiencing a bone bruise in January. He underwent left meniscus surgery and has been sidelined since.

“Kind of let it calm down for the last two weeks. I was going at it pretty hard trying to get back as fast as possible,” Ball said. “But like I said, at a standstill, still have pain. So gotta get that figured out this summer for sure.”

He added that he is hoping to avoid a second surgery.

“Hopefully not. I wouldn’t want to have another one,” he said. “But if that’s what it takes, then I pretty much have no choice at this point.”

The Bulls pulled back on Ball’s comeback attempts last month. He is hopeful of strengthening the knee and has eyes on playing a full season.

“Obviously, something needs to be addressed this summer — a lot more leg workouts as opposed to probably upper body,” Ball said, per Johnson. “I’m going to work with the doctors and the strength coaches and do what I gotta do to get healthy.”

Ball, 24, was averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists prior to the injury, appearing in 35 games in his first season with Chicago.

The Bulls acquired Ball before the season in a sign-and-trade deal with the Pelicans. They are the third team for the former No. 2 overall draft pick.

Chicago was eliminated from the first of the playoffs by the defending champion Bucks, in five games.