Lonzo Ball expects to play on Feb. 23 during the Lakers' first game after the All-Star break.
"I practiced yesterday in full, but it's at a point where I can play but it still hurts a little bit," Ball said. "So they want to just get that out and take this week, and we are playing good right now so no need to rush it."
Ball sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 13 against the Dallas Mavericks. He returned to the game after the initial injury, which became much more painful the next morning.
After the Lakers' back-to-back games in New Orleans and Minneapolis on Wednesday and Thursday, Ball will have missed 15 games with the injury. So far the Lakers are 8-5 without him during that span.
Ball also said he will not play in the NBA's rising stars game on Friday at Staples Center. The game will feature two teams of players in their first and second years. The players are divided into teams of international players and Americans. Sacramento rookie De'Aaron Fox will replace Ball in the game.
Ball, who will sit out the All-Star weekend's Rising Stars game scheduled for Feb. 16, said he could play if his team were in the playoffs but instead will take the time to ensure he makes a full recovery rather than aggravate the injury further and risk missing more time.
"I didn't think it was going to be this serious, to be honest. ... There was never a timeline for it. It was kind of just a thing that came up. I thought it was going to be dealt with quicker, but obviously my body didn't react to it that well. I should be back hopefully soon," Ball said last week. "It's pretty tough. This is the most games I've ever missed in my whole life. ... Just doing what I can to be a good teammate and support them."
Ball, 20, is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 36 games this season.
