UCLA Basketball: Lonzo Ball Opts-in for $21.4M with Bulls in 2024-25
Former UCLA Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball, now with the Chicago Bulls, has decided to opt into the final year of his current contract, securing $21.4 million for the 2024-25 NBA season.
By the Numbers- Lonzo Ball's decision: He has opted into the final year of his current contract, worth $21.4 million for the 2024-25 season.
- Contract details: It's the last season of a four-year, $80 million deal he inked in a sign-and-trade between Chicago and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite his decision to pick up the option, there's a significant chance that Lonzo Ball may never play professional basketball again due to ongoing health issues, including three knee surgeries.
State of Play- Lonzo Ball's health: He has undergone three knee surgeries while with Chicago and has not been healthy enough to play in an NBA game since January 2022.
- Impact on the team: His health struggles, coupled with the team's reluctance to waive or trade him, have significantly impacted the Chicago Bulls' performance, moving them from a frisky East also-ran in 2021-22 to a middling play-in non-contender.
Given his ongoing health struggles, the future of Lonzo Ball's professional basketball career remains uncertain, and his impact on the Chicago Bulls' performance will continue to be a topic of interest and concern.
Bottom LineLonzo Ball's decision to opt into his contract brings financial security, but his ongoing health issues cast a shadow over his future in professional basketball and continue to impact the Chicago Bulls' performance.
Read more at Sports Illustrated UCLA Bruins News, Analysis and More
The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI