Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball still can’t run or jump without pain in his left knee and will undergo a second arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday.
“There was a point where we would warm up and stuff, and I would go through certain days, and it would be fine,” Ball said on a video call with reporters. “Then whenever I got to real basketball activities, I just couldn’t do it. Unfortunately, this is what’s at hand and has to be dealt with. We feel like surgery, again, is the best option.”
Ball will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
The five-year veteran hasn’t played since he tore his meniscus last January.
In his first season with the Bulls, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 34 games.
“From my understanding, they’re going in there to see what it is,” Ball said. “Because it’s not necessarily showing up on the MRI, but it’s clear that there’s something there that’s not right. So they’re going to go in, look at it, and whatever needs to be done is going to be done.”
This will be Ball’s third knee surgery.
“This time around, I really don’t want to rush anything,” said Ball.
The oldest of the Ball brothers was expected to come back last season after his injury.
But now, with a third surgery, he refrained from giving a timeline for his return or speculating if he may miss the whole season.
“That’s not in my mind right now, but that would be the worst-case scenario,” Ball said. “I’m at a point now where I know I can’t get back out there until I’m comfortable playing and can actually play. So whenever that day comes, that’s when I’ll have the jersey back on.”
“The doctors and the Bulls, we’re all trying to figure out what it is. Like I said, we all came to the conclusion that it’s time for surgery.”
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he has not picked a replacement for Ball yet.
