Lonzo Ball’s sprained ankle was originally predicted to keep him out six weeks, but it now appears as though a secondary injury could keep the Los Angeles Lakers point guard out further than the original timetable.
According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, Ball is also dealing with a bone bruise:
“Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball has been dealing with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle that the team believes could extend his recovery past six weeks, according to two people familiar with Ball’s condition.”
It’s not all bad news, however. According to the report, Ball has progressed quickly through the first stages of his rehabilitation.
Teammate LeBron James mentioned Ball’s absence as something that the Lakers would have to overcome before Thursday’s win over the Houston Rockets.
“We are still missing a key piece of our unit in Zo, which we’ve missed a lot,” James said. “But we are definitely together and we look forward to seeing what we are capable of.”
The Lakers’ 2018-19 campaign has been riddled by injuries. As a result, they are currently fighting for their playoff lives.
The sooner Ball is able to the return to the court, the better the chances the Lakers will have at advancing to the postseason.
