Lonzo Ball is nearing reevaluation after the second surgical procedure on his left knee, however Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan mentioned a date hasn’t been set for the subsequent step within the level guard’s restoration.
Ball underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure Sept. 28 in Los Angeles to deal with a lingering meniscus damage. At the moment, the Bulls set a four- to six-week window for Ball to recuperate from the surgical procedure, after which the Bulls medical group and his medical doctors would reevaluate him.
Wednesday marked 4 weeks for the reason that surgical procedure, however Donovan mentioned the Bulls medical group hasn’t set a date for the reevaluation to happen.
“I've not heard something as of but,” Donovan mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation towards the Indiana Pacers on the United Middle. “(The medical group has) not come to me nor did I'm going to ask them.”
Donovan mentioned he doesn’t anticipate Ball might want to return to Los Angeles for the reevaluation. Since returning to Chicago the week after the surgical procedure, Ball has been working persistently within the weight room throughout practices on the Advocate Middle, performing lower-body exercises that embrace weighted squats.
Even when Ball is cleared within the subsequent two weeks to take the subsequent step in his restoration, the highway to returning to the courtroom will likely be a protracted one.
Ball hasn’t performed basketball or run at full velocity since a Jan. 14 recreation towards the Golden State Warriors. After present process surgical procedure for a torn meniscus in January, Ball struggled to return to exercise first due to a bone bruise in his left knee, then a “stunning” quantity of lingering ache that compelled the second process in September.
Donovan mentioned the Bulls really feel “optimistic” about Ball’s progress, however there isn’t a timeline for him to return to contact drills or follow.
“I see him. He’s feeling good. He looks like he’s progressing,” Donovan mentioned. “He’s optimistic and optimistic about every thing. … The largest factor simply via the surgical procedure is the incision therapeutic to proceed to progress. I simply don’t know the way far alongside he's in that course of.”
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