Lonzo Ball is likely to miss most of the 2023-24 NBA season as he recovers from another knee surgery. The Chicago Bulls point guard has not played since January of last year after suffering a knee injury, and he’s now going to need to undergo a third procedure on his left leg to address the lingering pain that’s been causing him problems.
The operation is a debridement, which is a minimally invasive procedure that removes broken down cartilage or tissue. It’s a common procedure used to treat athletes who have a meniscus tear.
In this case, the underlying issue seems to be the knee losing its ability to bend when it is at about 30 degrees. This is a problem that’s not clear in MRI scans, but it causes the knee to lose strength whenever it bends that much.
It’s a frustrating situation for Ball, who has been battling this knee issue on and off for the last four months. Several times, he’s been re-evaluated after undergoing another surgery, but the team has still not been able to figure out what’s wrong with him.
Luckily for us, Lonzo has been doing a lot of rehabilitation and he’s slowly getting back into shape. He’s posted videos on social media of him running, dunking a basketball and performing hurdle drills during the winter.
His knee has also been injected with PRP, which is supposed to help improve healing and recovery from surgery. He’s also been working out on the treadmill, which is a great way to stay fit and strong without having to worry about putting too much stress on his knee.
Unfortunately, the rehab process has taken longer than expected. The team originally said he would be reevaluated in four to six weeks, but it’s been more than half a year and Ball is still struggling to get his knee back into tip-top condition.
That’s a concern for fans of the young guard, who was one of the brightest stars in the league entering his sophomore season. He played an integral role in helping the Bulls make a surprise run to the playoffs last season and he’s been one of the best two-way players in the game.
He’s already had surgery on his knee twice this past year and he’s now going to have to go through the same process again for his latest issue, which is a knee meniscus tear that has been affecting him throughout his career so far.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, he will undergo a debridement procedure on Wednesday. The procedure will allow doctors to pinpoint what’s causing the knee pain.
The operation is expected to take place in Los Angeles, and there’s optimism that it will lead to Ball finally stepping onto the court again this season. The doctor’s hope is that this procedure will address the lingering pain and prevent it from coming back again.
The operation will cost Ball most of the 2023-24 season, and that’s a big blow for his team. The Bulls have been hoping for him to return to the court this season, but this is a long and difficult road to travel.