Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball Confirms NBA Return After 2-Year Injury Recovery

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is set to return to the NBA after being out for over two years. He announced his plan to play in two of the team’s last three preseason games. He may play on Monday (14th) against the Milwaukee Bucks or on Wednesday (16th) against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ball’s Struggle with Knee Injury

Ball, 26, has been out since January 2022 because of a left knee injury. His last game was against the Golden State Warriors on January 14th. Since then, he had three surgeries. He even had a meniscus transplant, which started to trouble him back in 2018 when he played for the Lakers.

Before his injury, Ball was a key player for the Bulls. He was known for his defense, passing, and shooting. During the 2021/22 season, he averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. His three-point shooting was also strong, with a 42.3% success rate. With him, the Bulls won 22 of their first 35 games. But after his injury, they won fewer games and got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

During his absence, Josh Giddey, who joined in a trade, is expected to start as a point guard. Other guards like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jevon Carter will also support the team.

Lonzo was the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He played for the Lakers and Pelicans before joining the Bulls. He’s now in the final year of his contract, earning $21.4 million in the 2024/25 season.

Last week, Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas confirmed Lonzo would be ready for the season opener on October 23 against the Pelicans.

Lonzo’s return is exciting news for fans and the Bulls as he makes his way back after a long recovery.

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