Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball to have third knee surgery

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball — who has not played since Jan. 14, 2022 — will undergo a third knee surgery, one that could require him to miss a majority of the 2023-24 NBA season, if not the entire season, according to The Athletic.

Ball has been experiencing lingering discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee. He had surgery for a torn meniscus a few weeks after suffering the injury in January of last year, and has experienced multiple setbacks while trying to ramp up basketball activities.

The Bulls had him rest for 10 days at one point, hoping it would resolve the issue and allow him to return. But he felt pain again when he started preparing to play.

Ball was still unable to run at full speed or even walk upstairs without experiencing discomfort when he had another operation in late September. He said at the time he expected to play this season, but in February, the team announced that he would be out for the season.

Ball has been able to do some on-court work. He recently posted a video on Instagram of him dunking.

Ball averaged 13.0 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 42.3% on 3-pointers over 35 games last season — his first in Chicago. He helped set up stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and gave the Bulls an elite perimeter defender.

Chicago is 11th in the Eastern Conference at 31-37.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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