CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls and point guard Lonzo Ball are targeting his long-awaited return in Wednesday’s home preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to team sources.
Ball has missed the past 2 1/2 seasons while recovering from a left knee injury that required three surgeries. His comeback attempt following meniscus and cartilage replacements has never been done in the NBA.
Ball last appeared in an NBA game on Jan. 14, 2022. When he takes the court Wednesday as expected, it will have been 1,006 days since his last contest.
When asked in the first week of training camp — Ball’s first since 2021 — how he will define success this season, Ball didn’t hesitate.
“Just being available,” he said. “I know I can help the team when I’m out there. So just making sure my body is ready to play.”
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan told local reporters over the weekend that Ball was held out of the team’s shootaround Saturday after experiencing soreness, which Donovan described as normal. Barring any setbacks or additional soreness, the Bulls and Ball expect Ball to appear in Chicago’s final two preseason contests.
Following Wednesday’s game against the Timberwolves, the Bulls plays their preseason finale at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Chicago opens the regular season on Oct. 23 at the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ball said overcoming the mental challenge of navigating such a long recovery was most difficult. But he said he tries to not think about his left knee while playing.
“But obviously I am human,” Ball said. “So sometimes I do feel it, and I’ve just got to continue to keep trusting it.”
Ball has acknowledged that he must alter his playing style, but the Bulls believe Ball’s instincts and IQ will aid him as he adapts. Look for Ball to rely on his court vision, passing and perimeter shooting to contribute in limited minutes. The Bulls are not intending to play Ball major minutes, certainly nowhere near the 34.6 per game he played in 2021-22.
Throughout the season, the Bulls will continue to monitor Ball’s knee.
“It’s really just slight differences, to be honest,” Ball said. “More physical things. Like sliding on defense and getting over screens and stuff like that is a little bit slower. But just play the game a lot smarter. That’s really what I have to focus on. And just keep using my IQ to be ahead of things.”
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
