CHICAGO — Bulls guard Lonzo Ball made a surprising statement at media day on Monday. After two and a half years away from NBA action, Ball says he expects to be ready to play in Chicago’s first game of the regular season.
“That’s the goal, obviously we can’t really tell the future, but that’s the plan I’m on,” Ball said. “I think I’ll definitely be ready for the first game.”
Ball was hampered by injuries and setbacks in his recovery process for two and a half seasons, and did not play in NBA game starting on January 14, 2022. It started with knee surgery to treat a torn meniscus that forced him to miss the rest of the 2021-22 season. He was expected to make a full recovery after a year, but setbacks in his rehabilitation process pushed that further down the line. He then underwent another knee operation, this time an arthroscopic debridement procedure to clear debris from the previous surgery, and there was hope that he would return after a normal rehabilitation process. However, in March 2023 Ball had his third surgery in two years, an experimental cartilage transplant that gave him a new meniscus.
The third time ended up being the charm as Ball slowly progressed and was seen participating 5-on-5 hand-to-hand combat with others NBA players at the end of August. This marked the first time Ball was seen in any game simulated action, which is a significant milestone in his recovery. And now, we have an answer as to when his long-awaited return might take place.
Bulls president Arturas Karnisovas repeated Ball’s statement of when he will return saying “that is the plan” of him ready for opening night. But Karnisovas also noted that they will have to see how Ball’s knee responds in training camp to determine what his role looks like.
“Going into training camp, we’re going to have to bring [Lonzo] up slowly,” Karnisovas said. “He’s already played 5-on-5, but we haven’t seen him go through training camp, so it’s going to be a lot of learning experience during training camp and how he can take loads, daily practices. . We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Ball expects to be on a minutes restriction to start, and likely won’t participate in back-to-backs, but felt optimistic about where he is as he prepares to return. He also realizes that the way he plays will have to change a little after all the surgeries he’s been through.
“Obviously I’m not going to be as athletic as I used to be, but I feel like skill and IQ can go a long way, especially in the league,” Ball said. “I’m not too worried about it, obviously my game will have to change a little bit, but I still know how to play the game and I think I can play at a high level.”
Ball’s return is positive not only for the Bulls, but for his career, as he proved to be a strong two-way player before the injuries. He led a backcourt with Alex Caruso that created one of the best defensive duos in the NBA, and was a reliable 3-point threat for Chicago in his first year with the team. Ball was a vital cog on a Bulls team that stood near the top of the Eastern Conference standings before his knee injury.
But the Bulls team Ball brings back this year is a far cry from the one he joined in a sign-and-trade in the summer of 2021. Gone are DeMar DeRozan and Caruso, two guys who were integral in the only successful season of Chicago four years. before Chicago is embracing a youth movement, and with that the expectations have changed dramatically as the 2024-25 season approaches.
“I feel like I can play with anybody personally,” Ball said. “I feel a lot older to come back and see guys here now, we have a young team. But I’m excited to start the year.”
Karnisovas has repeatedly said that the team does not plan to tank and the goal is to win games. That may be the case, but it’s hard to see this team contending for a playoff spot in a competitive Eastern Conference. And as for Ball’s role, he will more than likely see a change in his place on this team as Chicago brought in Josh Giddey as part of the deal that sent Caruso to Oklahoma City. There’s also the growth of Coby White, who was a finalist for Most Improved Player a year ago, that the Bulls have to consider with Ball’s return, as well as Ayo Dosunmu, who finished the year strong a season ago.
With the moves Chicago made in the offseason, it could be seen as the Bulls are ready to move on from Ball regardless of how he returns. Considering they had to tread water without him for nearly three seasons, it’s understandable that Chicago wanted to trade for someone like Giddey, something Ball also understands.
“I think they’re trying to do what’s best for the team,” Ball said. “Obviously we had a lot of success when I ran point guard, got rebounds, pushed it up, and Giddey is able to do the same thing. For me, I look at it as, they want to win as many games as possible. , and they feel that he can do it, we feel he can do it and that’s why he’s here.”
When Ball is healthy, he is one of the best two-way guards in the league, capable of being a disruptive force on defense, making things easy for teammates with elite facilitation and knocking down 3s. But there’s no telling if Ball can return to being that type of player after having what he says is “a brand new knee.” If he can, it will be hard for Donovan to keep him out of a significant role in the rotation, and maybe even the starting lineup.
Those are all things that will need to be addressed further down the road, as there will undoubtedly be some rust. Ball will have to retire after being away from NBA action for nearly three years. But the prospect of seeing Ball play again will be a welcome sight for the Bulls.
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