Lonzo Ball will be limited at the start of training camp.
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The 20-year-old guard, who underwent knee surgery in July to repair a torn meniscus, won’t be ready for 5-on-5 scrimmages when the Lakers begin practice next week, coach Luke Walton said in an interview Wednesday (AEST) with Spectrum SportsNet.
Walton said Ball has participated in some 1-on-1 drills and the Lakers have no plans to “rush him back at all.”
Lonzo Ball (knee) won’t be ready for 5-on-5 scrimmages when training camp starts next week, Luke Walton told @SpectrumSN
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) September 18, 2018
Ball has done 1-on-1 drills, Walton said, but Lakers won’t “rush him back at all.”
Full Walton interview with @geeter3 airs Wednesday at 8 pm on @SpectrumSN
Ball was diagnosed with the injury at the end of the season, according to an earlier report from Yahoo Sports. He missed games last season because of a knee contusion and an MCL sprain.
Ball was selected with the second-overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He averaged 10.2 points and 7.2 assists in 52 appearances during his rookie season.
Los Angeles finished 2017-18 with a 35-47 record and missed the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
But, Los Angeles completely rebuilt their roster this summer.
LeBron James announced he was leaving the Cavaliers and signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers in early July. They also re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and inked Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo as well as Michael Beasley to contracts in the offseason.
