Zach LaVine says undergoing surgery was the last thing he wanted to do

"I was pretty much trying to figure out every way not to."

© David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was on the team’s bench during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers to support and egg his teammates on in what eventually was a 112-102 defeat—their first on this four-game road trip. LaVine was in high spirits and shared to reporters before the game how getting foot surgery that prematurely ended his season was the last thing he wanted to do.

Didn’t want to undergo surgery

The two-time All-Star had been bothered by foot inflammation all season long. The condition, which LaVine revealed as a non-union Jones fracture, caused him to miss over a month. After returning to play seven games, LaVine suffered an ankle sprain that eventually impacted his foot, leading to the decision to undergo foot surgery.

“It sucked, man. I was pretty much trying to figure out every way not to. You never want to have surgery. But I got to a conclusion, especially with what the doctor was telling me, that the pain level and this thing isn’t going to heal on its own,” LaVine said.

“It’s a bone that was floating around. It’s known as a non-union Jones fracture, which I was dealing with for awhile. And once the doctor---I’m glad I was able to find him---told me you need to get this done sooner than later, it was good to know.”

LaVine revealed that he injured his foot as a youth basketball player. However, it never gave him problems until this season. After trying to see if it would heal through rest, LaVine and his team concluded it would be best to correct the issue via surgery.

However, once he got an outside opinion that said the situation wouldn’t improve merely by rest, he made the difficult choice to end his 10th season.

Zach LaVine on the process of deciding to undergo surgery: “I was pretty much trying to figure out every way not to.”

Defined the injury as a nonunion Jones fracture, which means part of the base of his fifth metatarsal was essentially floating in his foot. pic.twitter.com/coVHAPXwBF

— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) March 9, 2024

Play the waiting game

LaVine has already shed the cast and is on track to take off the walking boot. He reported that, at this point, it’s all about waiting for his foot to heal so he can proceed to the next step—rehab.

“I feel really good. I get the boot off soon,” LaVine added.

“There’s not a lot. I just have to wait obviously for the tendon to heal. And then it’s a straightaway rehab. My legs feel strong, body feels good.”

Zach LaVine returning to the Bulls bench pic.twitter.com/tuSeAipzYm

— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) March 9, 2024

No fourth-quarter magic this time around as the Chicago Bulls lose to the Los Angeles Clippers