According to NBA reporter Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Bulls are even more concerned about Lonzo Ball‘s knee rehab.
Ball won’t play this season after undergoing a cartilage transplant in his left knee last March. He hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022.
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan revealed that Ball still can’t run yet.
“I don’t know if he’s stuck,” Donovan said. “He is doing some shooting, some running, some jumping. He hasn’t done any sprinting yet, that I know.”
Ball signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. The UCLA product averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists for Chicago in 2021-22 in 35 games while shooting 42.3% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line.
“They talked about that, and [sprinting] was kind of a goal, a set point. I do think the one thing that has been a priority right now, so he does not get set back, is he needs to develop more strength in his leg,” Donovan said. “Because of him having that surgery and being off his leg so long, before he’s really able to ramp up, I think they want him to get to a place physically that relates to his quad strength. I don’t want to say it’s a holdup, but that’s where they want to get him to. In terms of what he’s doing, he feels better.”
Ball has career averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers, Pelicans and Bulls. Chicago is unsure if Ball will ever play again, according to NBA insider Jamal Collier of ESPN.
The Bulls are 27-31 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Chicago missed the playoffs last season and Ball not playing at all was a big reason why the Bulls struggled.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
