Guard Lonzo Ball returns to Bulls with 'brand-new knee'

Uncertainty has shrouded Bulls guard Lonzo Ball’s career since Jan. 14, 2022. That’s the last time he played an NBA game before missing the last two-plus seasons with an injury to his left knee.

But with the Bulls opening training camp Monday at the Advocate Center, the expectation is that Ball will be ready for the start of the regular season.

‘‘I pretty much have a brand-new knee, so it’s always going to be a little different than what God gave me to start off with, but I’m feeling good,’’ Ball said. ‘‘I’m feeling healthy enough to play, so that’s all that really matters.’’

After signing a four-year contract with the Bulls in 2021, Ball brought a fast-paced style of play that invigorated the team and helped the trio of guard Zach LaVine, center Nikola Vucevic and forward DeMar DeRozan coalesce.

He returns to a new version of the Bulls, who dealt DeRozan to the Kings in a sign-and-trade and guard Alex Caruso to the Thunder during the offseason. Only four of the 12 Bulls who played in Ball’s last game remain on the roster (LaVine, Vucevic and guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu).

‘‘I feel like I can play with anybody,’’ Ball said. ‘‘I feel a lot older coming back and seeing the guys in here now. We have a young team, but I’m happy for them. I’m excited to get the year started.’’

There were doubts about whether Ball, 26, would play again. He said he started his podcast, ‘‘The WAE Show,’’ because he had to start thinking about endeavors outside of basketball. He hopes to put the injuries behind him as he tries to resume his career.

The Bulls will be cautious with Ball’s workload. He said that back-to-backs are ‘‘off the table’’ and that he’ll be on a minutes restriction.

‘‘Going into training camp, we’re going to have to bring him up slowly,’’ executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas said. ‘‘Again, we haven’t seen him go through training camp, so there’s going to be a lot of learning experience in training camp in how he can take loads and everyday practices.’’

The uncertainty about Ball was among the reasons the Bulls acquired guard Josh Giddey from the Thunder in the deal for Caruso. Giddey isn’t as consistent a shooter or as good defensively as Ball, but he brings a high IQ and playmaking chops the Bulls hope will help improve their offense, which ranked 19th in the league last season.

Ball said he sees similarities between himself and Giddey.

‘‘I think they’re trying to do what’s best for the team,’’ Ball said of the Bulls trading for Giddey. ‘‘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. I look at it as they want to win the most games as possible.’’

Ball knows he’ll have to adapt his game to fit his current abilities and is ready to get started.

‘‘I just felt like this was my journey,’’ Ball said. ‘‘It’s not like I wanted to get hurt, it’s just something that happened. You’ve got to deal with obstacles that come in your life and overcome them the best way you know how.’’