Bulls' Lonzo Ball Has No Plans to Undergo Surgery on Wrist Injury, Says HC Donovan

Lonzo Ball has not played since Feb. 28 because of an injury to the same right wrist that also forced him to miss the first 15 games of the 2024-25 campaign, but Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan does not believe the guard will need season-ending surgery.

"I think the intention that he's doing right now is just trying to get himself back to playing," Donovan told reporters Saturday while revealing there are no plans to shut Ball down. "Doctors aren't saying, 'Hey listen, you gotta sit out.' It's just when he feels that he can do things on the court that he's comfortable with."

The coach also said there are no plans for the veteran to undergo surgery in the offseason either.

Injuries have been a constant reality for Ball since he joined the Bulls ahead of the 2021-22 season.

He suffered a knee injury during his first year with the team that was initially expected to sideline him for six-to-eight weeks. However, he ended up suffering multiple setbacks and requiring multiple surgeries, including a cartilage transplant in 2023.

Ball returned to the court for the first time since January 2022 this season and ended up signing a two-year, $20 million contract extension with Chicago.

Yet now he is dealing with a wrist injury ahead of the stretch run as the Bulls fight for a play-in spot. They are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings and four games ahead of the Toronto Raptors for that final spot. They are also just one game behind the Miami Heat for the No. 9 seed.

The UCLA product has been understandably rusty at times and is averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from deep.

There is no exact timetable for his return, but all indications are that Chicago expects him back at some time before the season ends.