Chicago Bulls insider says Lonzo Ball just might be done for the season

With 23 games remaining in the regular season, a Chicago Bulls insider believes that Lonzo Ball may be done for this season. With no significant updates regarding the injured point guard, it might be just a matter of time before the team announces an official diagnosis.

Foregone conclusion

According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the announcement of Ball sitting out the rest of the season may be coming sooner rather than later. The team insider claims that the development may be a "foregone conclusion"

"You know he was supposed to come back in six to eight weeks from January 2022 and then when that was extended and they shut him down last season, everyone was like 'okay cool, he's back for training camp.' I asked him point blank when we were in Paris 'are you concerned at all about this being career-threatening?' He obviously is going to downplay that but at this point, until he can play, that question is going to remain," said Johnson.

Ball has not played in the NBA since January 22 when he suffered a torn meniscus in a game against the Golden State Warriors. Since then, he has undergone two surgeries and was expected to return this season. Unfortunately for Ball and the Bulls, that has yet to materialize. With 23 games left in the regular season, it may be too late for Ball to make a return to the floor, much less make a significant contribution this season.

"I just wanted to bring that up because you know those of us who are on the team every day are fully expecting that to become official in the near future that's unfortunate you know," said Johnson of the possibility of Ball being shut down for the season.

Bulls are floundering without Ball

With Ball last season, the Bulls entered the All-Star break as the best team in the Eastern Conference. Without him, Chicago finished the rest of the season with a 19-23 mark, and this season, the Bulls have failed to live up to expectations.

The team is currently 26-33, good for the 11th spot in the East standings, and could miss out on a playoff berth if they don't turn things around soon. Without their star point guard, it's been difficult for the Bulls to replicate their successes from last season, and it might be in the team's—and Lonzo's—best interest to shut him down the rest of the way.