Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan gave a significant update on Lauri Markkanen, who’s out with a right shoulder injury. Markkanen suffered the shoulder injury vs. the Orlando Magic on February 5.
The Bulls’ head coach spoke on Markkanen’s injury situation prior to the game vs. Minnesota Wednesday, claiming it’s highly unlikely for him to return before the All-Star break.
(per Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports):
“He makes progress, but he has not done anything contact-wise, he’s done nothing that at this point in time would show us that he’s going to be back within the next week,” Donovan said. “Could it happen? Sure. Do I feel like it’s likely it’s going to happen? Probably not.”
If Markkanen is out for the rest of the first part of the season, he’ll have missed 14 games in this latest injury situation and 21 of 35 games this season after he spent seven games in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol earlier.
The promising forward has been great for the Bulls averaging 19.1 points on 51 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from deep in limited playing time this season.
