The Chicago Bulls are running out of time. They spent a lot of resources to compete in the playoffs but have yet to do so with the core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball. Some of their inability to compete at a high level is their fault — but not all of it. Ball's knee injury is a huge culprit and a primary source of pessimism for the team.
When Ball was healthy, the Bulls were one of the best teams in the NBA and owners of the best record in the Eastern Conference in January of 2022. So much has changed for Chicago since then. Ball is now going to miss a second consecutive full season, limiting the potential of its lineup and jeopardizing a very promising career.
Vucevic called Ball a “big piece” to the Bulls' success in a conversation with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. He recalls how his estimated return date kept getting pushed back further and further until he was ruled all the way out. As tough as it is, he knows Ball is working his tail off to return.
“You feel for the guy. He’s such a good player. And to have to deal with all that, it’s very difficult,” Nikola Vucevic said, via Yahoo Sports. “I mean, he’s been very positive about it. He keeps trying to find ways to get back on the floor. There’s a lot of stuff people can’t see. You can’t see him do rehab. You can’t see all the stuff that he does to get back on the court. I mean, injuries are the worst part of being a player. You want to play. You want to be out there. Our careers, they’re longer now, but they’re still short. And for him to use two years, two-and-a-half, it’s a big deal.”
Even though Vucevic told Fischer that he's happy with the Bulls' offseason additions of Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig, he knows that Ball is the fuel to the Bulls' fire. His playmaking makes it easier for the team's star scorers and his defense was a huge key to a team with a limited amount of stud defenders. Without him, they have little hope of making a playoff appearance, much less a playoff run.
The Lonzo Ball injury situation is a gravely saddening one. But the Bulls guard is not letting up in his rehab process. While he may not be able to recover in time to keep Chicago from tearing this team down, his teammates will be rooting for him the whole way.
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