Bulls' Lonzo Ball may need 3rd surgery on knee, sources say

There is a growing possibility that Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will need a third surgical procedure on his right knee that likely would require another six months of recovery and rehabilitation, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Ball, who hasn't appeared in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022 and has been already ruled out of the 2022-2023 season, has undergone two surgeries on that troublesome knee in the past 14 months. The belief is that a third surgery is likely necessary to give the former No. 2 overall draft pick his best opportunity to play again, sources said.

The Bulls and Ball's representatives with Klutch Sports are working together and consulting with specialists before a final decision on surgery is made, sources said, but a procedure sometime this month would further delay the possibility of Ball ramping up for a return in the 2023-2024 season.

Ball, 25, made incremental progress in recent months, but has yet to be able to run, cut or jump without experiencing pain. He is completing the second season of a four-year, $80 million free agent contract with the Bulls — a deal that started with tremendous promise in 2021-2022.

In his first season after arriving from the New Orleans Pelicans, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds and shot 42% on 3-pointers. He played a significant role on both offense and defense in leading Chicago to a 27-13 record before the injury.

Since Ball's absence, the Bulls have struggled and currently are 30-36 and 11th in the Eastern Conference.