Lonzo Ball’s NBA career has been plagued by injuries, but after more than two years on the sidelines, the Chicago Bulls guard finally seems to be on the right track.
Ball, 26, has undergone multiple knee surgeries and hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 2022. During a recent episode of the “What an Experience” podcast, Ball opened up about some of the challenges he faced after the serious injury that forced him to take an extended break.
“To make a long story short, it ended up starting with a torn meniscus. Basically it started when I tore it the first time with the Lakers,” Ball explained. “[I]tore it a few more times and it got to the point where I didn’t have any meniscus at all. It was bone rubbing against bone. So there was no cartilage and the bone was just mushy.”
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Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls answers questions from reporters during media day at the Advocate Center on Oct. 2, 2023 in Chicago. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
“So I had to get a new meniscus from a donor. I also had to get a bone allograft and I had to get new cartilage put in. Those have all healed and now I’m back on the court.”
Ball also suggested he lost a year as doctors tried to determine exactly what symptoms he had throughout the 2021-22 season.
But Ball remains optimistic about his future as a basketball player.
“I plan on playing again,” Ball told reporters at Bulls media day in October. “I’m only 25 years old. I think my rehab is going well so far. I don’t have any setbacks. So for me, I’m just going to keep moving forward and keep working hard.”
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball smiles after making a 3-point shot during the second half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at United Center on Jan. 11, 2022 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
While recent comments have shed some light on what the NBA star has been working on, it seems likely the Bulls and Ball are hoping he can contribute in the 2024-25 season.
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Chicago finished the 2021-22 regular season with 46 wins and qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ball, who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, had improved his overall game by the time he joined the Bulls, and his 3-point shooting and free throw percentages had improved noticeably even before his knee issues began.
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