Lonzo Ball undergoes successful knee transplant, eyes season opener return

Lonzo Ball, a player for the Chicago Bulls, had surgery on his left knee last year. He got a new meniscus and a bone allograft, where a replacement bone is used from another person. This was because he tore his meniscus in 2018 while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The issues with his knee got worse over time, leading to bone-on-bone rubbing and the cartilage wearing away. Lonzo Ball had multiple surgeries on his knee and had to take a break from playing in the NBA. He had a cartilage transplant in March 2023, which was his third knee operation in a little over a year. It took about 14 to 15 months to figure out the problem with his knee. He experienced pain while jumping and walking up stairs. Despite the challenges, Lonzo Ball is determined to return to playing. He expressed his belief that he will be ready for the season opener and hasn't faced any setbacks in his recovery. The Chicago Bulls and Ball are hopeful that he will be able to contribute during the 2024-25 season. Lonzo Ball, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, was traded to the Bulls in 2021. He missed the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons due to his knee injuries. Ball is looking forward to playing for the Bulls in the upcoming season and is committed to getting back on the court.