NBA Rumors: Lonzo Ball set to miss training camp following pain due to meniscus surgery

Lonzo Ball was one of the most vital players for the Chicago Bulls last season. The young guard improved his 3-point shooting and helped the Bulls become one of the best teams in the East. Ball shot a career high 42.3% from beyond the arc. However, he suffered a knee injury in January which kept him out for the remainder of the season.

It was earlier reported that Lonzo Ball was recovering well from the injury. However, sources have told ESPN `that he could miss training camp and the start of the season.

NBA on ESPN

@ESPNNBA

Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is doubtful for the start of the regular season due to lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his left knee in January. es.pn/3Qc1wwe

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Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is doubtful for the start of the regular season due to lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his left knee in January. es.pn/3Qc1wwe

The Bulls missed Ball in the second half of the season. They looked extremely solid at the start of the season and even topped the conference at one point. However, playing without Ball, they seemed to lack creativity and fell to sixth position by the end of the regular season.

Tk

@TksWisdom

Lonzo Ball essentially guarded 3 players in one possession here and generated offense out of it. This is why they say the best offense is a good defense #NBA #NBADefenseWeek #Lakers

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Lonzo Ball essentially guarded 3 players in one possession here and generated offense out of it. This is why they say the best offense is a good defense #NBA #NBADefenseWeek #Lakers https://t.co/0XZ2C5gPAR

There were high hopes from the Bulls heading into this season with Ball and Zach LaVine being expected to be fully fit. But with Ball's presence still in doubt, things could get tricky for Chicago.

The growth of Lonzo Ball has been massive

Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls.

Lonzo Ball has grown from strength to strength each year since making his debut in 2017. There were high expectations in his rookie season as he had a stellar college career with UCLA.

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@WashedJaden

Lonzo Ball has mastered the skill of outlet passing.

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Lonzo Ball has mastered the skill of outlet passing. https://t.co/bG4rAPpRBd

However, the pressure of playing for the LA Lakers proved to be too much. He did not have a great time in LA and was eventually traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

In his time in New Orleans, Ball matured as a player and improved his two-way presence, too. However, his poor 3-point shooting continued to affect his game on the offensive end.

K.L. Brown, CEO of Sweat Box

@sweatboxprogram

Rewatching @PelicansNBA opening night preseason game from October 7, 2019. A thread... Lonzo Ball @ZO2_ full court harassment skills on point guards is under utilized by Pels. Forces teams out of early offense & creates havoc. Defensive slide, hip turns, active hands 🏽

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Rewatching @PelicansNBA opening night preseason game from October 7, 2019. A thread... Lonzo Ball @ZO2_ full court harassment skills on point guards is under utilized by Pels. Forces teams out of early offense & creates havoc. Defensive slide, hip turns, active hands 🙌🏽 https://t.co/3SLQbSkc5L

In the summer of 2021, Ball signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Bulls. Many believed the Bulls were overpaying, but the team got off to a great start. Ball's 3-point shooting improved as well. More than that, his playmaking skills helped fellow stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to score effortlessly.

Chip Jones

@ChipJNBA

One of Lonzo Ball's best skills is his ability to identify mismatches early and often. Bulls offense has to do about 0 work here and DeMar is immediately sent to the free throw line.

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One of Lonzo Ball's best skills is his ability to identify mismatches early and often. Bulls offense has to do about 0 work here and DeMar is immediately sent to the free throw line. https://t.co/KB6EG9ofLW

As the season progressed, Ball kept proving that he had the ability to be an All-Star sometime soon. However, a knee injury in January brought his best season in the league to a hault. The young guard has a great career ahead of him but he needs to recover from his injury.

Lonzo Ball has the potential to be one of the best two-way guards in the league. His defensive presence could elevate the Bulls to become contenders in the East.

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