CHICAGO (AFP) — Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, sidelined for more than a year by a left knee injury, will miss the entire National Basketball Association season with nagging discomfort, the team announced Tuesday.

The 25-year-old American, selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft, also played for New Orleans before a 2021 trade to the Bulls.

But Ball played only 35 games for Chicago before the injury in January 2022. He has undergone two surgeries since the setback, most recently in September, but has been unable to resume basketball-related activities without discomfort.

"Despite making significant increases in strength and function over the past several months, Ball continues to experience performance-limiting discomfort during participation in high level basketball-related activities," Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said.

"Considering the required time period to achieve the necessary level of fitness to return-to-play and the current stage of the NBA season, Ball will not return this season.