WATCH: Lonzo Ball Receives Standing Ovation In First Game Back In 1,006 Days
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball suffered a torn meniscus against the Golden State Warriors on January 14th, 2022, when the team was sitting atop the Eastern Conference and firing on all cylinders. Three surgeries on that knee and nearly three calendar years later, he has officially returned to play. Tonight, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ball drilled his first two three-point attempts and instantly impacted the floor. His facilitating and three-point shooting abilities had the Bulls leading the league in fast-break points during the 2021-22 campaign and helped several teammates flourish with his presence. The absence of a point guard has haunted the Bulls since his injury, and his return, along with Josh Giddey’s addition, will solve the most significant problem Chicago has faced over the last two seasons.
Welcome Back, Lonzo Ball
The United Center wasted no time welcoming back their most recent true point guard. After Ball checked in for the first time in over 1,000 days, he drilled two three-point field goals, dished out one assist, and grabbed one rebound in his first five minutes of action. He was also showered in love by the crowd at home.
Chicago will likely bring Ball off the bench this season, with the addition of Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder and having already ruled out playing in back-to-back games, he’ll play an interesting role this season. It’s assumed that much of the year will be spent finding his new limitations and play-style after the two year hiatus. If he can return to the distributing point guard who was among the most efficient three-point threats leaguewide that he was when first getting injured, Chicago’s bench will be much better than recent memory.
Staying Cautious, But Playing Aggressive
As Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson noted on the sideline during the third quarter of Ball’s first preseason action, his return is miraculously navigating uncharted territory. Most sports analysts and doctors speculated whether or not he’d ever see a basketball court again. Tonight, he’s showing that his perseverance and training regime have proven otherwise.
The first half featured Ball’s three-point shooting prowess, whereas the third quarter flashed his ability to cut to the rim and finish around defenders at the rim. He’s running the fast break, operating seamlessly in the offense, finding his shots, and scoring at all three levels. This return could not have gone much better for the 26-year-old guard.
Chicago will play their final preseason game on Friday night, where Ball will likely get a few more stints depending on how his body reacts to tonight’s physical toll. The regular season begins next Wednesday, October 23rd, and Ball, Billy Donovan, and Arturas Karnisovas have all three said in the last month that he will be ready to play in some capacity by then. If tonight is any indication, he will make an immediate positive impact for the Chicago Bulls.