Lonzo Ball injury update: started running and cutting / News - Basketnews.com

Ball has started running, jumping, and cutting. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan described the player's progress as promising and was happy for him.

Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/AFP - Scanpix Credit Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/AFP - Scanpix

Lonzo Ball has been sidelined for the entire 2023-24 NBA season so far. Despite being ruled out for the season, the player is steadily progressing toward his return.

Lonzo Ball

Team:Chicago BullsPosition:PGAge:26Height:198 cmWeight:86 kgBirth place:California, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Before Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan provided an update on the player's status.

"He started running," Donovan said. "Some of the workouts have been really really positive in terms of running, cutting, jumping, doing those things. He's progressed into that. Responded well. Some of the things -- not with my own eyes -- the medical guys have shown me is he looks good moving."

"Just really really happy for him personally for his progress, where he's at, and he's worked hard to put himself in this position. Hopefully, he just continues to progress like he's progressing."

Asked to expand on his words, the coach said that everything Ball currently does is in a controlled environment.

"He's running and cutting, and doing some of that stuff now. Obviously, it's all controlled, there's no contact," Donovan explained.

The NBA has previously granted the Bulls the Disabled Player Exception (DPE) for Ball, allowing more than $10 million in extra money to spend to improve the roster amidst Ball's injury woes. The DPE for Ball expires on March 10th.

Ball required a cartilage transplant in his knee, which is a very rare procedure in the sports world. He missed the entire 2022-23 season and is set to miss the entire 2023-24 NBA season as well. The guard has played only 35 games for the Bulls in his career, all of them during the 2021-22 season that was cut short by the injury.

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