Despite beef, Giannis shows Harden respect

Lonzo Ball is expected to begin running again in January as he begins his next step in a nearly two-year-long rehab process from a knee injury.

Ball underwent a cartilage transplant in March. No player have undergone the procedure and ever returned to the NBA.

Ball is not expected to return to game action until the 24-25 season and even that is a major uncertainty.

“Everything they’ve done in terms of progressing him he’s handled very well,” Billy Donovan said. “The pain that he was experiencing that was causing the setback I think has been eliminated in terms of what he’s doing now – but he hasn’t run. The next progression for him will be to start running and that will be here in January.”

Ball tore his meniscus on January 14, 2022. Ball underwent surgery and was expected back in time for the playoffs.

The NBA and NBPA will address players before Sunday’s All-Star Game to emphasize the importance of making the event a competitive one. Recent iterations of the All-Star Game have had a tangible dearth of defense.

Before last year’s game in Indianapolis, Larry Bird called on players to “play hard.” The league had also hoped reverting back to the East vs. West format would help improve upon the 2023 edition. Despite the urgings from the league and the timing of ongoing national media rights negotiations, the game was widely panned.

Sunday’s game will be held in San Francisco and feature four teams competing in a semifinal round and then a final.