NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls announced on Wednesday that Lonzo Ball will undergo another surgery on his left knee.
The arthroscopic debridement will occur next week on Sept. 28 in Los Angeles. Ball will then be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks.
The starting point guard first underwent surgery in mid-January for a torn meniscus in his left knee. Ever since trying to ramp up his rehab, discomfort has lingered and kept him off the floor. All of which led to a recent ESPN report that Ball was expected to miss the entirety of training camp and likely the start of the season. Now, I think it’s fair to say that timeline is confirmed (in the very least), while Ball’s expected return date remains as difficult to identify as ever — the best-case scenario, at this point feels, like late November.
If we want to look on the bright side, at least we get to say this is the first time the team has significantly addressed the problem since his initial surgery. While a second surgery never feels ideal, perhaps this could be the solution to the problem.
For what it’s worth, here is how Mercury Health described an arthroscopic debridement:
Arthroscopic debridement is a surgical procedure that removes the broken down bits of cartilage and tissues to help reduce pain and improve movement. It is most commonly performed to help reduce the symptoms of arthritis so that you can regain much of the function of your knee while reducing pain.
One can only hope this procedure finally gives Ball the relief he’s been seeking, and the guard can then begin a real journey to return to the floor.
Speaking of which, the last thing I’ll note is that we need to remember the words “re-evaluated” in four-to-six weeks do not mean the same thing as “will be back” in the lineup in four-to-six weeks. We may not be able to completely rule it out, but Ball will likely need more time to get his body right.
