NBA Rumors: Gloomy Report On Lonzo Ball From Insider

We're approaching the one-year mark since Lonzo Ball last played in a game for the Chicago Bulls. Two surgeries later, he's still not ready to return, and a new report indicates, sadly, that there's a chance he might not return at all this season. 

REPORT: Lonzo Ball is “not guaranteed” to play at all this season. His knee reportedly “still has pain in it,” per @wojespn.

Brutal. pic.twitter.com/14u4BlUoWv

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 15, 2022

NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday night that "there are no guarantees that Lonzo Ball plays at all this season. He's rehabbing that knee now and he's still feeling some pain in it."

The rehab after the first surgery in January was fraught with setbacks and pain in the knee. After a full summer of trying to recover, he was forced to have another surgery just before training camp. At the time, he was expected to be out months, but doctors were "confident" that he would "return this season." 

Two weeks ago, head coach Billy Donovan gave an ominous update. 

Billy Donovan on Lonzo Ball: It’s been really slow. He’s working through more and more but we’re not close to running or cutting or contact. Said the pain issue is still improving but not in clear.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 1, 2022

"It's been really slow," he said of Ball's recovery, while adding that the pain was still there.

Now, the new report that there's no guarantees the star point guard returns this season. 

Another brutal blow for the Bulls, who, some experts around the league are saying, might want to consider "blowing it up" and starting a rebuild. 

Photo: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports