5:38 p.m. ET
Jamal Collier ESPN
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The team announced that the surgery was successful and that LaVine is expected to make a full recovery. LaVine, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, had knee discomfort for most of the second half of the season after an awkward landing and rebound on Jan. 14 against the Golden State Warriors.
LaVine flew to Los Angeles just before the All-Star break to meet Dr. To visit Neal ElAttrache, who performed LaVine’s ACL surgery in 2017 and the procedure on Tuesday. He received platelet-rich plasma therapy and a cortisone shot, and fluid was drained from his left knee to continue playing for the remainder of the season. He has missed 13 of the team’s last 43 games for knee maintenance.
“I have to go into the offseason and figure out how to get back to 100 percent, I didn’t play to 100 percent this year. [I will] find the best plan and strategy to get my knee back to normal,” LaVine said in a video conference call with reporters following the Bulls’ first-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Everyone has to deal with things throughout the year, I don’t think anyone plays 100 per cent. If you want to play, you will do what you can.”
LaVine averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 67 games this season while shooting 47.6% and 38.9% from 3. He made the All-Star Game for the second straight year despite struggling with injury in the second half.
At his season-ending press conference, Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said he wanted LaVine in Chicago long-term and the status of LaVine’s knee would not affect the team’s interest in re-signing him this summer.
“What he went through in the second half of the season, we definitely appreciate that he’s in every game and fighting,” Karnisovas said at the time. “He’s another one who will see doctors and get well, but I’ve enjoyed my second year with Zach again, being an All-Star two years in a row, working with Zach and getting to know him. He has a great relationship with Billy, he has a great support system here with our coaching staff and front office so I hope he’s here for a long time.”