After a rough and oft-clowned start to his career, Lonzo Ball was settling in as a pretty good NBA player.

Then injury struck midway through the 2021-2022 season.  He missed the rest of that year and the entire 22-23 season.

Last night, the Bulls announced that they don't expect the 25-year-old to play in 23-24.

Arutras Karnišovas on Lonzo Ball: "Going into the offseason, our expectations is that he’s not coming back next season.”

— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) June 23, 2023

Earlier this year, Ball underwent a third surgery on his left knee, this one cartilage transplant seen as a last-ditch effort to save his career.

It wasn't enough to save the upcoming season.

Ball's knee problems began when he was wearing his dad LaVar's Big Baller Brand shoes and there has long been a belief that the kicks are what messed him up.