So much of guard Lonzo Ball’s Bulls career has been spent waiting.
His current wait will last a little longer.
Despite taking part in the shootaround and some optimism that he’d be available Friday against the Trail Blazers, Ball (right wrist) missed his 17th consecutive game. He hasn’t played since Feb. 28 and is dealing with an issue in the same wrist that cost him 15 games in October and November.
Coach Billy Donovan said Ball hasn’t had any setbacks, but there are still things he doesn’t feel he can do.
“I think his biggest concern is, can he go out there and be productive with where his wrist is at right now?” Donovan said. “I appreciate the way he’s tried to handle it because he worked really hard to get back. I think he was optimistic he could get back, but as he did things live, five-on-five, coming to shootaround, there are just things as it relates to shooting the basketball, passing the basketball that he feels are still inhibiting him from doing the things he knows he needs to do out there.”
In the 35 games he has played in his return after missing 2½ seasons because of three surgeries on his left knee, Ball is averaging 7.6 points and 3.3 assists. That comeback — his productive return to the court after a career-threatening knee problem — was one of the best stories of the NBA season. His play was strong enough to earn him a two-year, $20 million contract.
Now Ball is battling another ailment he can’t seem to shake.
“It eats him up because he’s competitive,” Donovan said. “Being around him before the knee and then seeing what he’s gone through with the knee, he’s never just thrown the towel in and said, ‘Hey, forget it.’ ”
Ball and the Bulls won’t be throwing in the towel this time, either.
Even with five games left in the regular season before the Play-In Tournament, Ball will keep working toward another comeback. There’s no firm timetable for his return, but he’s traveling with the team on its upcoming trip beginning Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Bulls haven’t decided on a point where they’d tell him to shut it down and get ready for next season.
Donovan said the goal is to get Ball back into games, but it has been a slow healing process.
“He’s really tried to push himself to get back,’’ Donovan said, ‘‘but this is not a situation right now where it’s like, OK, we’ve given up hope for the rest of the year. That’s not the case. I think if this continues at the stage it’s at, then maybe. The hope is he has gotten better and it will continue to get better, and he can get through that last hurdle where he feels more comfortable.”
Even though it would be on a minutes limit, getting Ball back would boost the Bulls’ play-in chances.
“He plays [unselfishly]; he plays the game the right way,” said Kevin Huerter, who was acquired in February as part of the trade that sent Zach LaVine to the Kings but has only played five games with Ball. “Passes the ball up the court, moves the ball. Plays with speed in the halfcourt, good defensively, competes at a high level. He’s someone I think it’s easy for anyone to step in and share the court with.”
Unfortunately for Huerter and the Bulls, it’s unclear when Ball will be able to step on the court with his teammates.
