Lonzo Ball makes long-awaited return from knee injuries, scores 10 in Bulls’ preseason game

CHICAGO – When the moment finally arrived, after multiple knee surgeries and a grueling rehabilitation, Lonzo Ball raised his right arm and blew a kiss to the cheering crowd.

Fans stood up as the announcement echoed through the arena: “Checking in for the Chicago Bulls! No. 2! Lonzo ball!”

It was a moment almost three years in the making.

Ball made his long-awaited return, scoring 10 points in 15 minutes in the Bulls’ 125-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The point guard also had an assist, a steal and a block in his first appearance since Jan. 14, 2022.

“It felt a lot better to play than to watch, I can say that,” he said. “I can’t even really put into words how I felt there.”

Ball, who turns 27 on October 27, underwent a cartilage and meniscus transplant in his left knee last year after several procedures failed to repair his injury. He felt he was ‘moving well’ and that the knee was not bothering him ‘at all’.

Ball received a rousing ovation when he came on for Josh Giddey after a timeout midway through the first quarter. It didn’t take long for Ball to make an impact. He scored an open three-pointer from the left corner on a feed from a driving Nikola Vucevic with 5:25 left in the period, drawing another loud roar from the crowd.

“Just blessed, man,” Ball said. “There were a lot of people who helped me get here, not just me. Just to see the crowds and all the love I get from the city, man, there’s no way you can replicate that. And it is real.”

Several players expressed their support and respect for Ball during the team’s postgame meeting. Coby White presented the game ball and LaVine presented Ball with a jersey that appeared to be signed by the team.

The Bulls have one more exhibition game against Cleveland on Friday before opening the season in New Orleans on October 23. Ball said he will “definitely” play against the Cavaliers. He will start the season on a minutes restriction and will not play games on consecutive days.

The Bulls had Ball on a 16-minute limit against Minnesota. They planned to have him get two stints of about four minutes per half. But after playing nearly six minutes in the third quarter, he sat the rest of the way.

“I just give him a lot of credit,” coach Billy Donovan said. “It was probably a lot because I was out for 2 1/2 years. You’re playing your first game. I know it’s not the regular season yet, but still, for him to play an NBA game, I know he’s put a lot of work into getting himself ready for this moment.

The Bulls are still trying to get a handle on how much activity leads to pain for Ball, let alone how the knee will respond to playing a game. Chicago also has an audience in the backcourt, with Coby White having a breakout season and Giddey in the mix after a trade from Oklahoma City.

Ball’s tenure in Chicago got off to a good start following a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans ahead of the 2021-2022 season. He averaged 13 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 42.3% on three-pointers in 35 games before going off the rails.

The Bulls initially thought Ball had a minor meniscus injury. But it turned out to be much more serious.

Ball underwent a cartilage transplant in March 2023, his third knee surgery in just over a year. He revealed on his podcast last May that the operation was more extensive.

Ball said he got a new meniscus before the cartilage transplant. He also underwent a bone allograft, in which the replacement bone comes from someone else. Ball said the issues dated back to when he tore his meniscus in 2018 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now – finally – he is playing again. Did he ever doubt that this day would come?

“Not really, to be honest,” he said. “I had a goal to get back on the field. I know it was a long journey, a long process, but it all paid off because this was what I was looking forward to. I’m just happy it’s here now .I can finally go out and do what I love to do.’

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