Bulls’ Lonzo Ball May Need Third Knee Surgery

Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has missed all of this season and most of last with a right knee injury, and from the sounds of things, could be out a little while longer.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Ball may need a third surgery on the knee — a procedure that could keep him sidelined for another six months.

This is likely to only add to speculation around the NBA that Ball’s career may be over.

Ball is represented by agent Rich Paul, and per Wojnarowski, the point guard and his agents are deciding the best course of action with the knee and a potential third surgery.

Ball, 25, started to show signs of progress recently, but still can’t run or do basketball activities without pain, Wojnarowski reported. The Bulls announced last month that he would miss the remainder of the season.

Ball underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee in January 2022, and the complications that followed have been brutal. Some around Chicago have bee questioning if he’ll ever return, or if he’ll be the same —  or close to the same — when he does.

He 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 the Bulls.

Ball was acquired before the start of the 2021-22 season in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans, making Chicago his third team since being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

He is in the second year of a four-year contract worth about $85 million. The Bulls will clearly need to come up with a contingency plan if Ball is unable to return for the start of next season.

ESPN story on Bulls guard Lonzo Ball — who's had two right knee surgeries since his last game in January of 2022 — facing an increasing possibility of a third procedure: https://t.co/WItDBTabFX

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 9, 2023