Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has reaffirmed his confidence in being ready for the team's first regular-season game, as he made clear during the recent media day. The young talent hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 14, 2022, due to a series of debilitating knee injuries. Ball's journey back to the court has been arduous, marked by multiple surgeries and countless rehabilitation sessions.
After suffering a torn meniscus in his knee, Ball faced numerous setbacks in his rehabilitation process, leading to the necessity for further surgical interventions. He underwent a second knee surgery, an arthroscopic debridement procedure, followed by a third, experimental surgery in March 2023, which involved a cartilage transplant. Despite these challenges, Ball’s determination to return to the game remains unwavering.
In late August, there were promising signs of progress as Ball began participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages with other NBA players. Chicago Bulls President Arturas Karnisovas expressed cautious optimism about Ball's readiness for opening night, stating, "Going into training camp, we're going to have to bring [Lonzo] up slowly. He's already played 5-on-5, but we haven't seen him go through training camp so there's going to be a lot of learning experience during training camp and how he can take loads, everyday practices."
It’s evident that Ball's return will be managed carefully. He is expected to be on a minutes restriction and will likely abstain from participating in back-to-back games to prevent any recurrent issues with his knee. Despite these limitations, Ball maintains a positive outlook on his adaptation to the new realities of his game. "Obviously I'm not going to be as athletic as I once was before," he acknowledged, "but I feel like skill and IQ can go a long way, especially in the league. I'm not too worried about it, obviously my game's going to 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."
The landscape of the Chicago Bulls roster has also shifted notably since Ball's absence. Pivotal players from his first season with the team, such as DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, are no longer in the mix. Caruso was traded to Oklahoma City in a deal that brought Josh Giddey to Chicago. Ball offered his perspective on the trade and Giddey's potential impact, stating, "I think they're trying to do what's best for the team. Obviously we had a lot of success when I was running point guard, getting rebounds, pushing it up, and Giddey is capable of doing the same thing. For me I look at it as like, they want to win the most games as possible, and they feel like he can do it, we feel like he can do it and that's why he's here."
Other emerging players on the Bulls roster have also shown promise. Coby White garnered attention as a finalist for Most Improved Player a year ago, while Ayo Dosunmu ended the previous season on a high note and now finds himself in a crucial role. Ball expressed his readiness to mesh with the newly constituted team, commenting, "I feel like I can personally play with anybody. I feel a lot older coming back and seeing guys in here now, we have a young team. But I'm excited to get the year started."
As the Bulls gear up for the new season, the collective hope is that Ball’s return will bring stability and dynamism to the team's backcourt. Ball's ability to adapt his game and leadership on the court will be critical as Chicago aims to reclaim its standout performance from past seasons. His journey through adversity and relentless spirit offers an inspiring narrative for both fans and teammates alike.