The Bulls took a devastating loss on Saturday.
Guard Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot after consulting with his team and agency, Klutch Sports Group, the club announced.
He is expected to undergo the procedure on Monday and be out four to six months, the team said.
LaVine has been dealing with inflammation in the foot, which sidelined him for 17 games earlier this year.
During a Jan. 18 game, LaVine rolled his ankle in the third quarter, and though he came back in during the win over the Raptors, he played just two minutes in the fourth quarter.
He has not played in a game since.
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters Friday that LaVine would be out until at least after next week’s NBA trade deadline with the foot inlammation, though his ankle was improving.
“It’s still causing him problems, so it’s still going to be more time,” Donovan said, per NBC Sports Chicago. “The foot is inflamed and it’s going to be another week before he’s re-evaluated again. They’re hoping to quiet it down. We were all hoping it would happen a little sooner. But it hasn’t.”
The two-time All-Star has suited up in just 25 games this year, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
The Bulls are just on the cusp of the postseason bubble, sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 23-26 heading into Saturday’s action.
Overall this year, the Bulls are 13-11 without LaVine, going 3-3 over the last stretch since his latest absence.
Now, they’ll be without him for an extended period of time in an injury that could shape the East playoff outlook.
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