Bulls’ Lonzo Ball to Undergo Third Surgery; May Miss All of Next Season

Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is scheduled to undergo a third surgery on his troublesome left knee and could miss all of next season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Ball has already missed all of this season, and the second half of last because of the knee. Some around the NBA are wondering if his career is over.

Ball, 25, started to show signs of progress recently, but still can’t run or do basketball activities without pain, ESPN’s Adrian 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 also have been 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 given that Ball is likely out for a while — if not forever.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will undergo a third surgery on his left knee that is expected to cost him most, if not all, of the 2023-24 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

The sides are optimistic of the procedure reviving Ball's career. ??

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2023