Lonzo Ball, who played in just 52 games during his rookie season, is back on the court and “100 percent” following a knee procedure according to a report by ESPN.
The former No. 2 overall pick received a platelet-rich plasma shot for the ailing left knee that kept him out of the final portion of the regular season.
“I just got back [on the court],” Ball told ESPN at the Big Baller Brand Junior Basketball Association media day at Citizens Business Bank Arena, where he joined his father and brothers. “But I have been lifting weights. Nothing stopped me from doing that. I just got back on the court though, but everything is feeling good.”
According to the Los Angeles Times‘ Tania Ganguli, Ball was able to get back on the court last week for basketball activities:
Ball did not have any new setbacks, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly, but the procedure was to help the knee fully recover from the injuries he suffered during the season.
Ball missed about six weeks because of a sprained left medial collateral ligament and later with a left knee bruise. The Lakers initially termed the injuries as minor, but later it became apparent Ball’s injuries were more serious than they initially thought.
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In his exit meeting with the Lakers, Ball said President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka stressed that they wanted Ball to increase his strength so that he could recover faster from injuries.
“I want to play 82 games next year,” Ball said in April. “This year I played 52 and it has to come from the weight room.”
Ball averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 36 percent en route to earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
