Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Bulls guard acknowledges reality of making long-awaited return from knee injuries

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/16/24

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will return to action during Wednesday's preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Due to chronic knee issues, the former No. 2 overall pick's comeback will be his first NBA contest since Jan. 14, 2022 — 1,006 days.

Ball discussed details of his return and his expectations for the campaign ahead of the game.

Lonzo Ball: “We’re going to have to manage it all year. That’s just the reality of it.”

Ball said he’s on a 16-minute restriction tonight. Said he’s “full of joy” to be playing.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 16, 2024

Lonzo Ball says he's definitely going to be a different player after the injury, but still thinks he can produce:

"It's not the same body I started off with. But I think I can still be productive and effective on the court. That's why I'm still trying to play."
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) October 16, 2024

Anything the Bulls can get out of the 26-year-old this season will be a bonus.

Chicago acquired Ball in August 2021 in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. After his pair of campaigns with the Los Angeles Lakers to start his career, Ball played two years in the Big Easy.

The Bulls were atop the Eastern Conference at 27-13 when the former second-team All-Rookie last suited up. At the time, Ball was having his best season, averaging career-highs in steals per game (1.8), minutes per game (34.6), shooting percentage (42.3%) and three-point percentage (42.3%). The UCLA product also finished his 35-game campaign first on the team in assists (5.1) and second in rebounds per contest (5.4).

Chicago ended the 2021-22 regular season by losing 23 of its final 42 games after Ball went down to finish sixth in the conference at 46-36. The Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the first round, and things have only gotten worse in the last two campaigns without their floor general.

They went 40-42 to finish 10th in the East during the 2022-23 season, lost in the play-in tournament, went 39-43 (ninth) last year, and fell in the play-in tournament again. Chicago has failed to qualify for the playoffs in three of head coach Billy Donovan's first four seasons.

The Bulls begin their regular season on Oct. 23 on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans, one of Ball's former teams.

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