Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is gearing up for a historic return to the NBA after undergoing not one, but two rare knee surgeries. The star guard, who hasn’t hit the court since January 2022, revealed on the latest episode of his podcast that he had a meniscus transplant in addition to the cartilage transplant he underwent last year.
In a candid discussion, Ball explained, “To make a long story short, ultimately, it started with a meniscus tear. It basically started on the Lakers when I tore it the first time. I tore it a couple more times to a point to where there was no more — basically, not much meniscus left, and bone-on-bone was rubbing. So the cartilage was gone and the bone was messed up, so I had to get actually a new meniscus from a donor. I had to get a bone allograft and I had to get some new cartilage put in as well.”
Ball’s injury saga dates back to 2018, during his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers. After multiple tears and a failed attempt to heal through conventional methods, Ball opted for these groundbreaking surgeries in March last year.
“Now I’m back on the court,” Ball declared, reflecting on the grueling 15-month rehabilitation journey. “The stuff before that, we were trying to figure out what the problem was, so that was a wasted year. But now we’re here.“
Fans on edge as Lonzo Ball eyes historic return
This news has fans on the edge of their seats. No professional athlete has ever returned to the game after such extensive procedures. If Ball suits up for the Bulls on opening night in October, it will be a historic moment in sports.
Despite the setbacks, Ball is optimistic. “Yes, I firmly believe that,” he said when asked about his return. “That’s the plan that I’m on, and I haven’t had any setbacks, so I expect to play the first game.”
Bulls executive VP Arturas Karnisovas confirmed Ball’s progress last month, saying, “He’s improving, and we’ll see where he’s at the next couple months.”
And get this: Ball is dunking again! He shared on his podcast, “I can get up a little bit right now,” but acknowledged there’s still room for improvement. Will he make history this October? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure-Lonzo Ball is not giving up without a fight.
