Lonzo Ball deserved so much better.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has been dealing with well-documented knee issues over the course of the last two seasons and now it seems he might not ever step back on the court again.

In 2017, Lonzo Ball was heralded as a generational talent before ever entering the NBA. Fast forward almost six years and a series of lower-body injuries have led the Chicago Bulls to “privately” believe Ball will never play again, per Chicago sports reporter Dan Bernstein.

Ball began his professional career in Big Baller Brand Shoes, a sports apparel company founded by his father, LaVar. Fans may remember them for being sold for $495.

Many are now thinking that what caused him to be in the situation he is in right now.

“Lakers believe his initial injury, was caused by his shoes. BBB were complete trash, no R&D like Nikes, just thrown together,” CBS Sports’ Doug Gottlieb said Sunday. “Sad, because Zo can really play.”

During a 2019 interview on New York Knicks guard Josh Hart’s podcast, Ball joked about his shoes falling apart during the NBA Summer League before his rookie season. It was funny then, but now so funny right now.

By the start of the 2019-20 NBA season, Ball finally ditched his Big Baller Brand sneakers and exclusively wore shoes from Kobe Bryant’s signature Nike line during games.

It seems he waited too late to make the switch and now he is paying for it dearly.

The injuries have caused him to undergo surgery three times without improvement. The career of one of the NBA’s most promising playmakers is in serious jeopardy.