Bulls guard Lonzo Ball watches in street clothes from the bench during a playoff game against the Bucks on April 24, 2022, at the United Center. (Terrence Antonio James, Terrence Antonio James / Chicago)
LaVar Ball isn’t always a source of tranquility. But when it comes to the recovery of one of his sons — Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball — he’s focused on staying calm.
Lonzo hasn’t played basketball in more than a year after suffering a meniscus injury in his left knee in January 2022. In the 13 months since, Ball has undergone two surgeries, but his recovery continues to stall out because of consistent pain and discomfort.
If he can’t make significant progress before the All-Star break in two weeks, the Bulls front office will have a serious conversation about shutting him down for the second straight season. But LaVar emphasized his faith in his son’s ability to bounce back from the mysterious injury.
“Lonzo is going to be fine,” Ball said during an interview with the “Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast hosted by Bulls TV analyst Stacey King and WLS-Ch. 7 anchor Mark Schanowski. “He’s only 25 years old. He’s going to get his stuff together and then he’ll be ready to play and do his thing again. People just got to stay off that and thinking ‘Oh, you’re going to come back tomorrow, or next week, or next month.’ ”
The source of Lonzo’s injury has been a mystery to the Bulls medical staff, his personal physicians and Lonzo himself. According to coach Billy Donovan, Lonzo has not been pain-free since the injury occurred.
LaVar Ball attempted to provide some insight into his son’s injury, saying the main issue stemmed from “debris in a nerve” in his knee. But he didn’t specify which nerve or whether that was the source of the continued pain that Lonzo has felt even after undergoing a second arthroscopic procedure in September.
“That’s why he couldn’t get nothing done,” Ball said. “It don’t allow you to stretch like that. But all that’s done now. So now it’s about getting your strength back and then getting your endurance.”
Ball reiterated the same message the Bulls have stuck to with Lonzo — patience.
“Like I told him, do everything slow,” Ball said. “Don’t be 70% and try to come out there. Be 100%. So whenever you’re 100% come back and be ready to go. It ain’t about sitting out one game, 20 games (or) worrying about the money and stuff like that. Just make sure you’re healthy and good to go where you can play the same way.”
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Originally published at Tribune News Service