Zach LaVine cleared after knee injury, will rejoin Bulls after All-Star break
Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine should be able to rejoin the team next week after a meeting with a knee specialist went “very well,” coach Billy Donovan said Wednesday.
LaVine met with a specialist in Los Angeles this week, and had fluid drained in his left knee to relieve swelling. He will then slowly resume basketball activities and then participate in the All-Star Game this weekend before joining the Bulls again next week.
“I think right now the doctors feel totally fine with him resuming playing,” Donovan said. “I think Zach felt very, very good about the meeting … He’s probably going to be about 48 hours before he can do any activity really, but he should be able to resume activity after that.”
Billy Donovan gave an update on Zach LaVine's visit with a knee specialist: "It went very well." pic.twitter.com/mrTrsMxXTp
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 16, 2022
LaVine has dealt with a knee issue for several weeks now, and he’s missed the Bulls’ last three games — including Wednesday’s 125-118 win against the Sacramento Kings.
Chicago will return from the All-Star break and take on the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 24. It’s not clear how quickly LaVine will jump back into things next week, and Donovan thinks he will be on a minutes restriction of some sorts at the All-Star Game.
LaVine has averaged 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists so far this season, his fifth with Chicago and second straight getting an All-Star nod. The 26-year-old is in the final year of a four-year, $78 million deal with the Bulls.
“He was in really good spirits,” Donovan said, via ESPN. “Felt like it was a really good visit and [he] feels in a good place mentally. He’ll be ready to go.”
DeMar DeRozan dropped 38 points for the Bulls in the win on Wednesday, which marked their fifth straight. Coby White added 31 points, and Nikola Vucevic finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
