Bulls' Lonzo Ball Reveals Another Rare Knee Procedure: Meniscus Transplant

Photo: Instagram/Lonzo Ball

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball recently shared that he had another rare knee surgery: a meniscus transplant.

This news comes after Ball has been sidelined from NBA games since January 2022 due to ongoing knee issues. Ball revealed on his podcast that he initially suffered a meniscus tear as a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. 

This injury reoccurred multiple times, leading to severe damage in his left knee. “I tore it a couple more times to the point where there was not much meniscus left, and bone-on-bone was rubbing,” Ball explained.

Photo: Instagram/Lonzo Ball

To address this, Ball underwent a meniscus transplant, receiving new cartilage and a bone graft from a donor. "Now I’m back on the court," Ball said, noting the long recovery process which spanned over 14-15 months.

Despite these challenges, Ball is optimistic about his return. He confidently stated that he plans to be in uniform for the Bulls' opening game in October. If successful, Ball’s comeback would be historic, as no professional athlete has returned to competition after undergoing both a cartilage and meniscus transplant.


Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas mentioned last month that Ball was "progressing well" with no setbacks. Ball also shared that he is dunking again, though he acknowledges there is still room for improvement.


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