Fans of the Chicago Bulls are used to terrible news related to injuries.
It seems that nearly every player on the roster has experienced absences because of injuries lately.
But one injury has hurt the team more than others: that of Lonzo Ball.
It has been almost a year since Ball hurt his left knee and fans have been waiting patiently for him to come back.
The plan has changed multiple times, with Ball’s re-entry to the league being pushed back again and again.
Chicago #Bulls Lonzo Ball isn’t “anywhere close” to returning, source @ByJuliaPoe pic.twitter.com/2K9pP9CqFI
— Travis Jacque' Rose (@RoseSportsPod) December 1, 2022
A few days ago, it was reported that the Bulls hoped Ball would be back at the start of 2023.
That might not be the case.
Julia Poe from the Chicago Tribune is reporting that Ball isn’t “anywhere close” to returning to the team.
Hearing about Ball’s progress – or his lack of it, really – is a rude wake-up call for those who hope for the Bulls to have a strong season and playoff run.
Bulls Without Ball
In Poe’s report, head coach Billy Donovan got real about Ball’s rehabilitation.
“It’s been really slow,” Donovan said.
“He still has pain. We’re seeing the slow, gradual strides getting better, but I just don’t have any timetable of when he could even be back,” he added.
The bottom line is that Ball isn’t going to be playing basketball again any time soon.
His recovery has been halted by a bone bruise and more surgery, showing that the initial injury was far more complicated than expected.
The fact that Donovan admits Ball is still in pain is very telling, it proves just how difficult this recovery is.
The Bulls are missing Ball: they are currently 11th in the East with a 9-12 record.
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