Report: Lonzo not guaranteed to play this season

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball isn't guaranteed to play this season due to his ongoing recovery from a left knee injury, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ball is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break in mid-February when the team hopes to have a better sense of whether he can return this season, Wojnarowski adds. Chicago may shut down Ball for the season if the team remains out of the playoff picture. The Bulls are currently 11-15 and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference.

The 25-year-old underwent surgery in late September after experiencing pain in his left knee. He had a procedure to repair a meniscus tear on the same knee in January.

Ball played in 35 games last season before suffering the meniscus tear. The Bulls tailed off following his injury, finishing 19-23 in their final 42 games and losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.