(Audacy) Bulls guard Lonzo Ball hasn't played yet this season as his rehab continues from left knee surgery in late September, and he's "nowhere near playing," coach Billy Donovan recently told reporters.
Even so, Ball's father, LaVar, expressed confidence in his son's health during an appearance on the Audacy Original Podcast “Stacey King’s Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast.
“Lonzo is going to be fine," LaVar said. "He’s only 25 years old. He’s going to get his stuff together and then he’ll be ready to play and do his thing again. People just got to stay off that and thinking ‘Oh, you’re going to come back tomorrow or next week or next month.’”
Ball hasn't played since mid-January 2022. A couple weeks later, he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, but his rehab ran into complications. He also had discomfort created by a bone bruise in his left knee, and he had an arthroscopic debridement in late September to address the loose bodies in the knee.
“I mean he had some debris in the nerve," LaVar said. "That’s going to cause you to do some other things. That’s why he couldn’t get nothing done. It don’t allow you to stretch like that. But all that’s done now. So now it’s about getting your strength back and then getting your endurance.”
LaVar isn’t worried about Lonzo coming back before he’s ready. Being 100% healthy has been a point of emphasis.
“Like I told him, do everything slow," LaVar said. "Don’t be 70% and try to come out there. Be 100%. So whenever you’re 100% come back and be ready to go. It ain’t about sitting out one game, 20 games. Worry about the money and stuff like that? Nah. Just make sure you’re healthy and good to go where you can play the same way.”
Lonzo averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 35 games with the Bulls last season. It was his first year with the Bulls after spending two seasons each with the Lakers and Pelicans.
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