Billy Donovan reveals Lonzo Ball still hasn’t sprinted

Will Lonzo Ball ever get back to NBA action?

© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

While the Chicago Bulls are hopeful that point guard Lonzo Ball will someday return to the court, the most recent news regarding his rehab progress is not exactly encouraging. In a recent interview with reporters, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan revealed that Ball has yet to start sprinting as he recovers from his latest knee surgery.

It was reported that Ball and his team were slated to commence sprinting in January. However, with February coming to a close, Ball has yet to do that, leaving many to question where exactly Ball is in his recovery journey. Nevertheless, Donovan remains optimistic about Ball's progress and believes he is making steady strides toward returning to the court.

Is Lonzo stuck?

In early February, Lonzo visited the Bulls’ practice facility and was seen going through some shooting drills. At that time, Donovan shared Lonzo might be sprinting soon. But it seems that the timeline has been pushed back. So what does this mean for Ball and his future with the Bulls?

“I don’t know if he’s stuck. He is doing some shooting, some running, some jumping. He hasn’t done any sprinting yet, that I know,” Donovan said.

“They talked about that, and [sprinting] was kind of a goal, a set point. I do think the one thing that has been a priority right now so he does not get set back is he needs to develop more strength in his leg. Because of him having that surgery and being off his leg so long, before he’s really able to ramp up, I think they want him to get to a place physically that relates to his quad strength, hamstring strength, before he starts to really do that.”

Lonzo Ball’s 35 games in Chicago were special https://t.co/En910RwFJS pic.twitter.com/UmDdBnhWV0

— 🪼. (@juerter) February 28, 2024

Seen dunking

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lonzo was seen throwing the ball off the board before going up to get it and slamming it through the rim with two hands. This video sparked excitement among fans as they eagerly awaited the return of the two-way point guard. It also serves as a reminder of the potential and athleticism that Lonzo possesses on the court.

However, throwing down a slam dunk without any defenders is a far cry from the physical demands of an NBA game. As mentioned above, Lonzo's team is taking a cautious approach to his recovery, ensuring that he is fully ready before returning to intense gameplay.

Lonzo update 👀🔥

(🎥 @swishcultures_) pic.twitter.com/WY1OObNLdY

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 29, 2024