Bulls' Zach LaVine to have foot surgery, out 4-6 months

Bulls’ Zach LaVine to have foot surgery, out 4-6 months،

Jamal Collier, ESPNFebruary 3, 2024, 10:17 p.m.

CHICAGO — Bulls guard Zach LaVine will be out four to six months after undergoing surgery on his right foot next week.

According to the team, LaVine and his agency, Klutch Sports Group, elected to undergo this procedure after seeking additional medical advice.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan emphasized Saturday that it was LaVine's decision to have surgery, but he also said he thought the star guard had been trying to rehab his foot and get back on the court .

LaVine had not played since spraining his right ankle on Jan. 18. However, the sprain had healed, according to Donovan, and LaVine was sidelined due to additional foot discomfort. The same issue forced LaVine to miss 17 games earlier this season.

Donovan had said during practice Friday that the team expected LaVine to be out at least a week before he was re-evaluated.

“He made the decision that he felt was best for his health,” Donovan said before Saturday’s game against the Kings. “I really feel like he did everything he could to try to get back playing.

“The discomfort in his foot was in a place where I think he didn't feel like he had any chance of being himself. That was the really frustrating part.”

LaVine's disjointed 2023-24 season ends after just 25 games (23 starts). He averaged 19.5 points on 45.2% shooting – his lowest score since playing 24 games following ACL surgery in 2017-18 – 5.2 rebounds and 3, 9 assists. He missed 17 games earlier this season due to initial inflammation in his right ankle. He returned on January 5 and played seven more games before re-injuring his ankle.

LaVine, who signed a five-year, $215 million maximum contract in July 2022, has missed double-digit games in three of the last four seasons.

LaVine was one of the biggest names on the trade market heading into next week's deadline, but Donovan said he hasn't had any conversations with Bulls management about the injury's impact on the team. future of the team.

Chicago entered Saturday in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls are 13-11 (.542) without LaVine this season and 10-15 with him.

“He’s been in and out, but you’d definitely like to have a player of his caliber available,” Donovan said. “Now with the news we will have to play without him. I have always said that when you lose very good players it has an impact on your team.”