LONZO BALL NEWS

Playing full-contact 5-on-5 The Bulls confirmed Wednesday that Ball (knee) has started playing in full-contact five-on-five scrimmages and hasn't faced any setbacks, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times report...

Impact This is a massive hurdle for Ball to clear. The 2017 No. 2 overall pick hasn't played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022, and has undergone three surgeries on his left knee during that stretch, including an experimental cartilage transplant for a new meniscus. Cowley notes that no professional athlete has ever returned to high-level competition after having that surgery. Ball picked up his $21.4 million player option for 2024-25, so the Bulls would certainly be incentivized to play him if he's healthy. However, it's unclear how he'll fit into Chicago's plans after trading for Josh Giddey this offseason.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Lonzo Ball Opens Up on Being in Trade Rumors Lonzo Ball has seen his name get mentioned in trade talks many times throughout his career. He's already been traded twice in his short care...

JULY 14 • SI.COM

Lonzo Ball: I would've traded myself for Anthony Davis It seems like Lonzo Ball didn’t take it personally when the Lakers sent him away in the deal that brought them Anthony Davis in 2019.

JULY 13 • USATODAY.COM

WNBA rescinds second technical foul that was assessed to Angel Reese

The WNBA announced that it’s rescinded the second technical foul on Chicago rookie Angel Reese that occurred with 2:31 left in the loss to t...

JUNE 5

Bulls' Lonzo Ball offers to pay fine for Sky's Angel Reese following ejection

Angel Reese was ejected from the Sky's loss to the Liberty on Tuesday after receiving two technical fouls. A Chicago Bulls player is offerin...

JUNE 5

Bulls' Lonzo Ball says he had meniscus transplant, expects to be ready for opener

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball says he got a new meniscus when he underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee last year and expects to be ready for the season opener

MAY 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bulls' Lonzo Ball Reveals He Needed Donor for Most Recent Knee Surgery The Bulls guard has not played since January 2022.

MAY 24 • SI.COM

Reports: Bulls G Lonzo Ball picks up $21.3M option Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, who has missed the past two-plus seasons with chronic knee issues, picked up his $21.3 million option...

MAY 7 • THESTATE.COM

UCLA Basketball: Lonzo Ball Makes Decision on Player Option with Bulls How did the oft-injured ex-Bruin opt to continue his career?

MAY 5 • SI.COM

Reports: Bulls G Lonzo Ball picks up $21.3M option Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, who has missed the past two-plus seasons with chronic knee issues, picked up his $21.3 million option...

MAY 4 • KANSASCITY.COM

Picks up option for 2024-25 Ball (knee) has picked up the $21.4 million player option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Impact Ball continues to work toward a potential comeback before he hits the open market next summer, as he signed an original four-year, $80 million free agent deal in 2021, so it was a no-brainer for him to pick up this option. Ball hasn't logged minutes at the NBA level since Jan. 2022, but both the player and the organization are hopeful he'll be able to step on the hardwood at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.

MAY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Hopeful to play in 2024-25 There is optimism that Ball (knee) will be able to play next season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Ball hasn't logged any NBA minutes since Jan. 2022 due to a string of knee injuries. While the 26-year-old guard has yet to play 5-on-5 or participate in any contract drills, there is still optimism that he will return to action in 2024-25. Ball has a $21.4 million player option for next season.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Zach LaVine ahead of schedule after foot surgery, Lonzo Ball making progress

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine says his recovery from season-ending surgery on his right foot is ahead of schedule.

MARCH 9

Begins running Ball (knee) has begun cutting, sprinting and jumping in controlled, non-contact situations, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact The Bulls have exercised extreme caution with Ball's prolonged recovery from his third knee procedure since January 2021. Although it is just running in a controlled setting, this seems to be a big step for point guard in his recovery process. While there is still presumably a long way to go, the UCLA product is hoping to return to game action at some point during the 2024-25 season.

MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE

Making progress, still no sprinting Ball (knee) isn't experiencing pain during his day-to-day activities, which include a lot of mobility work, but he hasn't resumed sprinting yet, Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago r...

Impact Ball was expected to return to running in January, but all parties involved continue to proceed with caution. "Definitely doing much better in rehab," Ball said. "It's been a long process, obviously, longer than I'd like it to be. It's definitely cut out in stages and I keep checking off the boxes I'm supposed to and getting better each week." Coach Billy Donovan had similar sentiments, "He's doing different things on the court. He hasn't done any sprinting yet. I think everybody medically is pleased with the way it's progressing. Some of these movements he's doing now caused him pain before and aren't causing him pain. I know there was talk in January of him sprinting. I don't want to sit here and say he's behind schedule. I don't think that's the case because it's going well." Ball hasn't played since Jan. 2021, but he's staying positive and eyeing a return in 2024-25.

FEBRUARY 4 • ROTOWIRE

UCLA Basketball: Lonzo Ball Sued For Astronomic Sum By Ex-Partner Lonzo Ball and family have been sued.

JANUARY 30 • KANSASCITY.COM

Chicago Bulls' Lonzo Ball expected to start running in January: 'The pain that he was experiencing has been eliminated' Lonzo Ball is expected to begin running again in January as the next step of his nearly two-year-long recovery process from a knee injury. B...

DECEMBER 29, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Billy Donovan Gives Encouraging Update on Bulls' Lonzo Ball's Knee Rehab The guard has been out since Jan.

DECEMBER 29, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Positive update on knee Ball (knee) is expected to return to running in January, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports. "The pain that he was experiencing has been eliminated," coach Billy Donovan sai...

Impact While Poe notes that the Bulls still do not expect Ball to return this season, this is nevertheless an encouraging development for the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, who has not played since midway through the 2021-22 campaign. Early in his career, Ball dealt with a handful of lower-body injuries, most notably a cartilage issue in his knee, which was addressed via a transplant procedure in March of 2023. The plan is for Ball to accelerate his rehab within the next month, at which point the Bulls may have a better indication as to whether he'll be able to resume his NBA career. Back in October, Ball told reporters at the Bulls' media day that he "definitely" plans to play again. The former UCLA standout has a $21.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season that he'll likely exercise this summer.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

LaMelo and Lonzo Ball sued for more than $200 million by Big Baller Brand co-founder NBA guards LaMelo and Lonzo Ball, and their parents, LaVar and Tina, are among the defendants in a pair of lawsuits by Big Baller Brand co-f...

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 • LATIMES.COM

Still hopeful to resume career Ball (knee) said Monday that he's about halfway through the rehab process for the cartilage transplant surgery he underwent in March and is optimistic that he'll be able to continu...

Impact Ball's last NBA appearance came Jan. 14, 2022, and though he's set to miss a second consecutive season after undergoing a third operation on his left knee in a little more than a year, he's not yet ready to abandon hope on playing again. The 25-year-old said he plans on splitting the upcoming season between Chicago and Los Angeles while he continues his rehab program. Since Ball won't be regularly working out with the team, updates on where he stands in his recovery could be sparse in the months to come.

OCTOBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bulls G Lonzo Ball, 'only 25,' plans to play again after surgeries Don’t close the book on Lonzo Ball just yet, the Chicago Bulls guard warned Tuesday.

OCTOBER 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Lonzo Ball says he's far from finished in the NBA: 'I'm only 25'

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is not expected to play this season, but he is working to "stay positive."

OCTOBER 3, 2023

Lonzo Ball promises 'I'm coming back' while shooting down Stephen A. Smith report — but isn't expected to play for Chicago Bulls this season Lonzo Ball delivered an emphatic message Tuesday as reports continue to fill doubt surrounding the Chicago Bulls guard’ s ability to return...

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Bulls G Lonzo Ball Explains Reason He Took Issue With Stephen A. Smith's Comments The Bulls guard called out the ESPN personality in a video earlier this week after he falsely reported that he struggles to get up from the...

AUGUST 28, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM