The Chicago Bulls could get some serious reinforcements back for the 2024-2025 season. The Bulls have been without star point guard Lonzo Ball for the past two seasons. Ball underwent surgery for his left knee in 2022 and has not stepped in between those lines since.
It’s been a long road for Ball; however, that could all change next season. According to K.C. Johnson of NBS Sports Chicago, there is growing buzz that Ball will “at least try to attempt to play next season.” This is no guarantee, but it’s progress.
The former number two overall pick in 2017 was supposed to be the next great point guard in the league. Ridiculously high and unrealistic expectations and injuries haven’t helped one bit, but he was panning out a solid career for himself in Chicago.
The 26-year-old had two surgeries in 2022, one in January to repair a torn left meniscus and the other in September, where he underwent an arthroscopic debridement on his left knee. However, he continued to experience pain, leading to the Bulls shutting him down for the entire 2022-2023 season.
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His third surgery was last March for a more aggressive cartilage transplant procedure. Ball himself announced he would miss the entire 2023-2024 season. The Bulls have missed Ball for two seasons in a row, and it’s unfortunate. The former 2017-2018 All-Rookie member was coming into his own, but injuries have derailed him.
Fortunately, he’s still young enough to overcome these injuries and play a vital role for the Bulls. His play-making ability and defense are where he shines best. His play-making ability should still be there, but we are not sure about his defense, as it requires lateral movement and sharp cuts to keep up with the best in the NBA.
Ball isn’t giving up on his dream, as he told reporters in October 2023, during media day, that he plans to play basketball and overcome these roadblocks.
“I definitely plan on playing again,” Ball said. “Like I said I’m only 25, and I feel like the rehab process has been going well so far, no setbacks. So for me it’s just keep my head up and just keep doing the work.”
In his last season of playing basketball, Ball scored 13 points per game on 42% shooting from the field and behind the arc, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1,8 steals. He is determined to get back to where he was, and so are the Chicago Bulls.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.