"Sluggish and out of shape" - NBA fans unimpressed by Lonzo Ball's shooting drills during recovery

NBA fans were not entirely impressed with Lonzo Ball putting up shots at the gym. The Chicago Bulls guard has not played in an NBA game since January 2022 after tearing his meniscus. The injury saw him undergo three separate surgeries leaving him on the sidelines. Now, as he prepares for a return sometime next season, Ball was seen on the court unfurling his array of shots.

But it wasn't enough for the fans who minced no words when sharing their two cents on Ball's recovery journey.

One of them called him sluggish.

"Looks sluggish and out of shape"

More responses followed suit with @CryptidPolitics adding:

"Lonzo Ball can post all the videos he wants, but we'll believe it when we see him producing."

@thaofficialkat tweeted:

"I feel like we see this every summer just like we are with Ben Simmons, hope for his recovery fr but man cmon hang it up."

@DawktorX said:

"All that just to get hurt in 5 games"

@weedhat50 believed a trade was incoming.

"All this and he about to get traded"

@Drezeihnwoelf wrote:

"Watch him get injured pre-season"

Despite the skepticism from fans on social media, a healthy Lonzo Ball has proved to be a game-changer. In the early parts of the 2021-22 season, the Bulls were the No. 1 seed in the East for stretches with the combination of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Alex Caruso.

Forward to summer 2024, DeRozan and Caruso will be with new teams, while LaVine has found no takers in the league so far.

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Lonzo Ball picked up his $21.4 million player option earlier this year

Earlier this year, Lonzo Ball picked up his $21.4 million player option. He had signed a four-year, $85 million deal with the Chicago Bulls as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021. In his single season in the Windy City, he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals.

In his two seasons each with the LA Lakers and Pelicans, Ball averaged 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He was LA's first-round pick and No. 2 overall in 2017 out of UCLA.

Despite the knee concerns, Ball has remained optimistic that he can play the season opener for the Bulls if his recovery progresses per plan.

"I firmly believe that. That's the plan that I'm on and I haven't had any setbacks. I expect to play the first game."

Only time will tell if Lonzo Ball can suit up for the new-look Bulls as they look for a turnaround this season.