ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says NBA star Lonzo Ball is still ‘not healthy’ despite Bulls guard posting video of himself testing out his surgically repaired knee amid growing concern over the injury

Stephen A. Smith’s back and forth with Lonzo Ball continued Wednesday, with the ESPN host insisting the Chicago Bulls point guard is still facing a lengthy comeback after left knee surgery.

Ball has not played since January 14, 2022 and is still recovering from his third knee surgery in just over a year. And although the side announced in May that he no longer needs crutches, the 25-year-old Ball is not expected to play in the 2023/24 season.

Smith was introduced to this news on ESPN earlier this week, claiming a source told him Ball is still struggling to “get up from a sitting position.”

Ball dismissed that report Tuesday, posting a video of him standing and sitting repeatedly as he put all of his weight on his surgically repaired left leg.

Smith responded on Wednesday, telling Ball that his social media video doesn’t prove he’s sane.

“Are you really going to sit on the bench by the pool and think, because you get up and sit down… that you’re getting well?” asked Smith rhetorically. “Does that have anything to do with running up and down the track for 30, 35 minutes a night?”

Smith further revealed that he has a burst patellar tendon in his knee, which allows him to run lightly, but prevents him from playing basketball.

“I still have a six-inch screw in my knee,” Smith said. “If I go out on the basketball court and play 20 or 30 minutes, my knee will be ice cold and I won’t feel like playing another month. Does this mean I am healthy?

“Bro, you’re not well,” he continued. “You’ve missed about 48 percent of your games and your career is only four years away.

“And on top of that, since you missed all season last season, and 47 games the season before that, and you have to miss games this coming season until the new year, you wouldn’t. make a video in which you proclaim that you are healthy.’

The online turmoil was fueled in part by Smith’s online critics, who took delight in seeing his anonymously sourced report debunked by Ball. In his social media post on Tuesday, the Bulls star told Smith to “get to the real source next time,” adding that he’s “not hard to reach.”

But Smith was unmoved and instead asked Bulls fans if they think Ball is ready to return.

The answer would be no, Smith continued.

Smith did emphasize that he favors Ball, whom he claims to like.

Ball, the older brother of Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo, has two more seasons left on his contract, including his player option for the 2024-2025 season. Assuming Ball exercises that option, the Bulls owe him about $42 million over the next two seasons.