Lonzo Ball hopes to avoid surgery for a sprained right wrist, which will keep him sidelined for at least 10 days as he attempts to complete a comeback from an extensive left knee injury.
The Chicago Bulls point guard suffered the injury Monday in the first quarter of a 126-123 road victory against the Grizzlies after catching himself awkwardly on the court while attempting to make a steal. During media availability Wednesday after shootaround the Advocate Center, Ball said his shot was affected by some discomfort in the wrist, but adrenaline carried him through the rest of the game. He went on to play 18 minutes — two more than the restriction the Bulls medical team set — and finished with six points and six assists.
An MRI after the game revealed a Grade 2 sprain. Due to the current swelling in his wrist, Ball said playing through the discomfort would risk upgrading it to a Grade 3 sprain, which could require surgery.
The injury is an unexpected setback in the most positive stretch of Ball’s comeback from a longstanding left knee injury, which sidelined him for 33 months. The Oct. 23 opener marked Ball’s first regular-season NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022, following three procedures, which ended with the replacement of most of the cartilage in the knee, including the meniscus.
“It’s definitely an unfortunate moment,” Ball said. “But it happened. Got to deal with it and move on. Hopefully I can get over it as fast as possible and get right back.”
Lonzo Ball says his right wrist sprain occurred after catching himself awkwardly on a fall in Q1 of the Memphis game.
Noticed it felt weird in game, but adrenaline carried him.
Grade 2 sprain that they’re trying to prevent from worsening to Grade 3, which would require surgery. pic.twitter.com/cGcZnwchp9
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) October 30, 2024
The Bulls said Tuesday that the guard would be evaluated in 10 days and updates would be provided as appropriate. Ball will be able to maintain a regimen of weightlifting and basic cardio on the exercise bike and treadmill while resting his wrist, which he hopes will allow him to reenter the lineup immediately when he is cleared for contact.
