current location:HOME > Sports News > Basketball Hub > Text content

Bulls' Lonzo Ball confirms he'll miss entire 2023-24 NBA season

nqajqrqw7months ago (05-18)Basketball Hub158

During an appearance on Trae Young's "From The Point" podcast, Chicago Bulls point guardLonzo Ball confirmed that he'll miss the entirety of the 2023-24NBA season.

Back in March, Ball had a cartilage transplant in his left knee— his third surgery on that knee since he initially got hurt inJanuary of 2022.

"[I'm] just taking it day by day, bro. I just had a really bigsurgery. Hopefully, the last one I ever have to get," Ball said."It's a long process. I'm already out this whole next season."

The fact that Ball will be sidelined all season isn't toosurprising, as Bulls executive vice president of basketballoperations Arturas Karnisovas hinted that this might be the caseback in June.

“Everything is going well,” Karnisovas said at the time. “I think ourexpectation is that he’s not coming back next season and he’s goingto continue on his recovery. If he comes back, it would begreat.”

Ball hasn't played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022. Prior tohis injury, he was averaging 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists,3.1 threes and 1.8 steals, while shooting a career-high 42.3% fromthree-point range.

"When I first got hurt, we didn't really know what it was," Ballsaid during Young's podcast. "I was seeing all type of differentdoctors and stuff. I was just kind of going up and down. That wasreally hard for me because I just didn't know what the next day wasgoing to be like.

"At least now, I got the surgery. We got a plan moving forward.We've been on plan. I'm on track. Hopefully, everything works out.I just leave it up to God and do the best I can and live with theresults."

Ball is frustrated that he hasn't been able to play alongsidehis Bulls teammates, as he feels Chicago's roster perfectlycomplements his game.

"It's going to be a big what-if," Ball said. "I feel bad, justfor the [Bulls'] GMs because I feel like they made the perfect teamaround me. That was the most I've ever been involved in anorganization and I finally got the perfect team that I felt likecould fit my game and play my way and really just do what I wantedto do, so that injury — I'm still going through it right now — butthat one messed me up early because I felt like we had a chance andnever got to see what it was."

Recently, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported that Ball's injury isso bad that he has trouble standing up from a seated position. Ballresponded by posting a video on social-media that showed himsitting down and standing up with ease, while calling out Smith'sinaccurate reporting.

@stephenasmithcome to the actual source next time. I’m not hard to reach pic.twitter.com/88xyoB7LTf

— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) August 22, 2023

Over the course of Ball's five-year NBA career, the 25-year-oldhas averaged 11.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 threes and1.6 steals per game. Since being selected No. 2 overall by the LosAngeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball has emerged as aterrific passer and lockdown perimeter defender.

Share with friends:

“Bulls' Lonzo Ball confirms he'll miss entire 2023-24 NBA season” ofrelated articles

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 6 Recap: Nuggets move closer to sweep; Sixers, Magic strike back

The Denver Nuggets moved one winaway from sweeping their series after winning yet again vs the LosAngeles Lakers on Day 6 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Th...

2024 NBA Playoffs Day 2 Recap: Home teams continue winning ways

Day 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffshas been completed and the home teams continued winning by takingcare of homecourt. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clip...

Paige Bueckers leads UConn back to the Final Four

The Final Four will have to waituntil next year for JuJu Watkins.Considering how good she isalready as a rookie, Watkins will have three more years to...

Inside Victor Wembanyama’s unprecedented start to his NBA career

Victor Wembanyama lurks in thepaint, just beside the dunker spot, waiting for the drive. TheSpurs rookie has done this all season long, gobbling up sh...

Caitlin Clark surpasses Pete Maravich as all-time NCAA scoring leader

She is one of one.Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clarkmade history on Sunday night by becoming the NCAA’s all-timeleading scorer, surpassing LSU great Pete Ma...

Bronny James weighing whether to enter 2024 NBA Draft, says Rich Paul

LeBron James Jr., better knownas Bronny James, is weighing his options and considering whether toenter the 2024 NBA draft, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul...