During an interview with NBA reporter Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic talked about point guard Lonzo Ball’s knee issues. Ball, who missed all of last season for the Bulls, will miss the entire 2023-24 season as well after undergoing a cartilage transplant in his left knee in March.
“You feel for the guy. He’s such a good player. And to have to deal with all that, it’s very difficult,” Vucevic, who signed a three-year, $60 million extension with the Bulls this summer, said. “I mean, he’s been very positive about it. He keeps trying to find ways to get back on the floor (for the Bulls). There’s a lot of stuff people can’t see. You can’t see him do rehab. You can’t see all the stuff that he does to get back on the court.
“I mean, injuries are the worst part of being a player. You want to play. You want to be out there. Our (NBA) careers, they’re longer now, but they’re still short. And for him to lose two years, two-and-a-half, it’s a big deal.”
Ball has undergone three surgeries on his left knee. The former Los Angeles Lakers guard hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022. The Bulls signed Jevon Carter and re-signed Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu this summer since Ball won’t play next season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls Updates
Ball signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Bulls in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 25-year-old averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Bulls in 2021-22 in 35 games while shooting 42.3% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line.
The older brother of Charlotte Hornets All-Star LaMelo Ball, Lonzo has career NBA averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists with the Lakers, Pelicans and Bulls.
Ball said he will play in the NBA again at Invest Fest in Atlanta, dubbed “the world’s biggest business festival” and filled with speakers from the worlds of music, investment and entertainment. Some people around the NBA don’t think Ball will play again, but the Bulls star is confident he will prove his doubters wrong.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls Updates
“Life is not easy,” Ball said, via Bulls insider K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “If you want to get the most out of it, you gotta put your best foot forward. If you’re going to get knocked down, you gotta get back up every time if you want to keep going. You can always quit and take the easy way out and pout and go to the side. But for me, if you’re trying to get to a place where I want to get to, you just gotta get back up, dust off and keep going. I’m going to play again.”
The Bulls missed the playoffs last season after making the postseason in 2022. It will be interesting to see how many games Chicago wins next season.
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