Lonzo Ball 'feels sorry' for Bulls organization following injury
When the Chicago Bulls acquired Lonzo Ball via a sign-and-trade in 2021, it looked like they landed their point guard of the future. Ball is one of the few pass-first guards in the NBA. During his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, he improved his shooting and became known for his stout perimeter defense.
Unfortunately, Ball's tenure with the Bulls has been marred by a persistent knee injury. According to Bulls president of basketball operations Artura Karnišovas, Chicago isn't expecting Ball to be healthy for their upcoming season.
“Going into the offseason, our expectation is that he’s not coming back next season,” Karnišovas told EPSN. “He’s going to continue on his recovery. If he comes back, it would be great. But we’re just going to treat this offseason and get ready for the season that he’s not going to be back.”
Assuming Ball misses the entire 2023-24 season, it will mark more than two seasons since he last stepped onto an NBA court. During a recent podcast appearance on FlightSportztv Ball discussed his remorse at missing so much time, noting how he feels sorry for the Bulls organization.
"I feel bad, just for the GMs," Ball said. "Just because I feel like they made the perfect team around me. That was the most I've ever been involved in an organization. I finally got the perfect team that I felt could fit my game, play my way, and really just do what I wanted to do. That injury, I'm still going through it right now, but that one messed me up early. Because I felt like we had a chance, and never got to see what it was."
When Ball does eventually return to Chicago's rotation, he will likely struggle to reach his former standards. After missing two straight seasons, Ball will face an uphill battle to become the player he was before suffering his injury. As such, Chicago's chances of winning, or even contending, for a championship with its current roster are likely over.
A roster that promised so much is now in need of major changes. Unfortunately for Chicago, those changes aren't coming in time for the new season, and another year of struggle likely awaits.
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