The Bulls will likely be without Lonzo Ball for the entirety of their postseason run in 2022.
On Tuesday, April 5, multiple reports surfaced, each indicating that Ball had run into yet another setback in his knee rehab in an attempt to ramp up his conditioning for a potential return to action; Ball last played on Jan. 14.
What's next for Ball and the Bulls? Here is what we know about his injury.
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What is Lonzo Ball's injury?
After Ball suffered a knee injury on Jan. 14, an MRI revealed a small meniscus tear in his left knee.
On Jan. 20, the team announced that Ball would undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, giving him a return timetable of six to eight weeks.
Following the initially believed recovery timeline of eight weeks, Ball has consistently experienced setbacks in an attempt to return to action, including his most recent setback on April 5, with Bulls head coach Billy Donovan sharing that the guard was experiencing discomfort in his knee.
Billy Donovan said Lonzo Ball is experiencing discomfort after another try at the ramp-up process.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 5, 2022
Ball posted averages of 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 35 games with the Bulls this season.
How long will Lonzo Ball be out?
After initial reporting from NBC Sports Chicago insider K.C. Johnson, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Ball is expected to be shut down for the remainder of the season.
Sources: Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to be shut down for the remainder of the season. Ball has been rehabbing from meniscus surgery in late January, but continues to feel discomfort amid several recovery methods to return to action and a bone bruise in his knee.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 5, 2022
The report comes as the Bulls have just four regular-season games remaining before the NBA Playoffs, which begin on Saturday, April 16.
Chicago, which is one win away from avoiding the Play-In Tournament, is most likely to finish fifth or sixth in the East standings.
Lonzo Ball injury history
In the summer of 2018, Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to address the same injury.
After undergoing surgery in July 2018, Ball's knee was at "100 percent" in two months' time. Although was he eased into full participation at training camp in September of 2018, Ball played 20 minutes on opening night, which fell three months after the procedure.
The latest update from Chicago comes well short of three months following Ball's latest surgery, which was reported on Jan. 20, 2022.
