CHICAGO — After spending the summer in Los Angeles in rehab and seeking different opinions from knee specialists, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball said he still can’t run or jump without feeling pain in his left knee. knee surgery on Wednesday.
“There was a point where we would warm up and stuff, and I would get through certain days and it would be fine,” Ball said during a video call with reporters on Tuesday. “Every time I came to real basketball activities, I just couldn’t do it. Unfortunately, this is what’s going on and needs to be addressed. We feel like surgery is again the best option.”
The Bulls held their first team training session of the season on Tuesday afternoon as Ball was in LA preparing for his second left knee surgery since January and the third in his career — including one in 2018 while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Ball said he would return to Chicago to be with the team for his post-surgery rehabilitation.
“For me, this will be my third surgery, so this time I really don’t want to rush anything,” he said.
The Bulls said Ball will be re-evaluated within four to six weeks of his surgery, but both the team and Ball were hesitant to give a timeline for his return this season. However, Ball did not believe his knee would cause him to miss the entire 2022-23 season.
“That’s not on 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 there until I’m comfortable playing and can actually play. So when that day comes I’ll have the jersey back on.”
Not only is Ball limited in his activities on the basketball court, but he also says he has trouble climbing stairs and with daily movements. The persistent discomfort in his knee has taken the doctors, the team and Ball by surprise with his long-term problems. He said the surgery this week was as much about identifying the problems as fixing them.
“As far as I know, they’re going in there to see what it is,” Ball said. “Because it doesn’t necessarily show up on the MRI, but it’s clear there’s something that’s not right. So they go in, look at it, and whatever needs to be done will be done.
“I’ve never felt such pain or was able to get a little bit up, but never completely, so definitely a unique situation. The doctors and the Bulls, we’re all trying to figure out what it is. Like I said, we’ve all come to the conclusion that it’s time for surgery.”
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