Lakers Rumors: Lonzo Ball Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp Despite Knee Surgery

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read
Carlos Osorio-AP Photo

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a bit of bad news earlier this summer when it was reported that Lonzo Ball had a meniscus tear in his left knee. While the Lakers were confident that Ball would be ready for training camp, there were some questions about what treatment Ball would take.

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He’d previously received a platelet-rich plasma injection which required the point guard to keep off a basketball court for one month. When recently asked about his status and potential surgery, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka deferred the question to Ball’s camp.

A few days later, the Lakers announced he would undergo arthroscopic surgery on the balky left knee. Ball missed 30 games during his rookie season due to a variety of ailments, including his knee.

Fortunately, Sam Amick of USA Today reports that, even with surgery, the expectation remains that Ball will be fully recovered in time for training camp:

While the hope is that Ball will indeed be ready to go in time for training camp, the Lakers protected themselves by signing veteran maestro Rajon Rondo as a free agent. He fills a need as a mentor that the team lacked this past season.

The Lakers have also stated that four of five starting spots are up for grabs (with LeBron James being the obvious exception), which means that Rondo could usurp the starting role even if Ball is healthy.

With James in town and pressure to cement his starting status, Ball will have to hope to heal quickly and completely as he prepared for what should be a challenging 2018-19 season.

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Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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