SUMMARY
- Lonzo Ball has been sidelined from NBA action for approximately 733 days, dating back to January 14, 2022, when he suffered a knee injury while playing against the Golden State Warriors.
- Lonzo Ball's absence has been felt by the Chicago Bulls, particularly in their performance on the court.
Injuries are something that every professional basketball player must avoid. Because of a season-ending injury, the player is highly likely to become a deadweight for the franchise. Lonzo Ball, brother of LaMelo Ball, has succumbed to such a disastrous fate after an injury scare in his left knee. The 26-year-old point guard last felt the hardwood approximately 733 days ago and is likely to crave the feeling even more.
The No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference continues to create a space for themselves as the NBA approaches its mid-season mark. However, Ball provided coverage on both ends and could give the team a better chance. It’s worth noting that with Ball, the team was a rampaging group that was running on one of the best records in the Eastern Conference, i.e., 27-13. However, one wrong hit meant the Chicago Bulls had to miss the NBA playoffs in 2022–23.
The Chicago Bulls could trade Lonzo Ball and use his contract as a salary filler, per @KCJHoop
“Given that insurance is currently paying the bulk of his contract, it’s conceivable that Ball is used as a salary-matching addition to any potential trade the Bulls make before the… pic.twitter.com/2hlWfaPclX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 17, 2024
Although Billy Donovan, head coach of the Bulls, seems affirmative of Lonzo’s return to the hardwood, the trade rumors convey a different message. Per multiple sources, Ball’s heavy $80 million (for four years) contract can be used as a salary addition to trade in a major player. Per K.C. Jhonson of NBC Sports Chicago, given the insurance cover from the current contract and the approaching expiration of the $10.2 million disabled player exception, the trade looks conceivable.
There is one more reason that raises the bet on the foreseen trade of Lonzo Ball. DeRozan is serving the final season per his contract, and Zach LaVine is a hot name on the trade block already. Since the team is scrapping all the old players, a complete rebuild of the roster might be on the cards for the Bulls. The team is 19-23 and is coming off a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 15, 2024.
Why has Lonzo Ball been away from the hardwood since 2022?
Lonzo Ball sustained a knee injury while playing against the Golden State Warriors on January 14, 2022. The two-way guard was riding on a stellar 15-point score, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, all this faded away, as he was diagnosed with a bone contusion in his left knee. Such an injury is medically termed a micro-trabecular fracture and can take significant time to recover to its initial state.
To cure this injury. Ball went through surgery in January 2022. However, the pain didn’t seem to subside, and he had to go through another treatment. He then went through another surgery in September 2022, and still, the pain was not planning to leave the body.
Ultimately, the Bulls shut him down for the rest of the season. The star guard underwent a third surgery in March 2023, which qualifies as a cartilage transplant.
This was a more radical procedure, and hence he was confirmed to even miss the 2023–2024 season until further notice. Ball has a strong ability to push the pace with hit-ahead passes and speed dribbling, playing alongside DeMar DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vučević. The roster was certainly expected to trail behind as Ball was a major facilitator who could hit it from the three-point range when defenders collapsed on others.