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Lonzo Ball's absence from the 2023-24 NBA season has been officially confirmed by Chicago Bulls President of Basketball Operations, Artras Karniovas.
Karniovas stated: "I think our expectation is that he's not coming back next season and he's going to continue on his recovery. If he comes back, it would be great. But we're just going to treat this offseason and getting ready for the season that he's not going to be back next season."
While this news isn't ideal for Bulls fans, it's not entirely surprising either. Ball already missed the entire 2022-23 season due to a knee injury and underwent a third knee operation in March. However, this wasn't your typical knee surgery-it was a cartilage transplant.
Commenting on the unique nature of the surgery, Dan Bernstein from 670 The Score said: "It is incredibly rare and is much more likely being done just for his quality of life off of the basketball court."
Lonzo Ball's future in basketball in doubt
Bernstein revealed last month that the Bulls organization doesn't expect the 25-year-old to play again. However, publicly, there has been guarded optimism regarding his future, with the team refraining from requesting a salary exemption to avoid sending a message that they are done with him.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball was acquired by the Bulls before the 2021-22 season. His last game was on January 14, 2022, when he exited due to knee soreness, later revealed to be a small meniscus tear.
Throughout his career, Ball has averaged 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 252 games. The path ahead remains uncertain for the talented player, but his impact on the court may be put on hold for the foreseeable future.