Lonzo Ball returns for Chicago Bulls after nearly 3-year absence: 'It felt better to play than to watch'

It took Lonzo Ball less than a minute to re-introduce himself to the NBA on Wednesday night. Forty-three seconds, to be exact.

When Ball checked into the 6-minute, 8-second first quarter of a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the guard wasn't burdened with expectations. He was greeted by the crowd at the United Center as his teammates got to their feet on the sidelines, gesturing fervently to the fans to welcome his return.

It's been 1,006 days since Ball suffered a minor meniscus injury in his left knee that led to three operations, two seasons on the sidelines and doubts about his ability to return. Ball didn't need to show much – just that he could still hoop, the confusing stasis of the past 33 months hadn't ended his career yet.

But Ball wanted more. And the second time he went down the offensive side of the court, he drove to the corner to grab the ball with no defender within arm's reach to bury a 3-pointer for his first points since Jan. 14, 2022.

The basket reflected a turning point for Ball, who went on to win 125-123 with 15:07 to play. Ball finished the game with a final victory – the entire time he was on the court, the guard said he did not feel a single twinge in the knee.

After the win, Ball said, “I liked the game better than watching it, that's what I'll say. “I really can't put into words how I felt there. I was just blessed and happy to be out there. All the support around me was great all night. It was definitely a moment I will never forget.”

Ball finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range. In the third quarter, he made a backdoor cut and a reverse layup to the basket. He showed promising growth even on his two misses from behind the arc, easily recovering from awkward landings after making contact on both shots.

Some promising aspects of his drama took place at the other end of the court. On his second rotation in the first half, Ball came out of the defense to block Julius Randle's shot from behind. Barely a minute later, he pushed the ball away from Randle again as a help defender, threw himself onto the Bulls bench and flipped the ball behind his back and into the hands of Zach LaVine.

Both plays felt like a look back three years, a glimpse of a defender who terrorized opponents with quick feet and quick hands. The idea of ​​recapturing that version of Ball is an exciting prospect for the Bulls.

“He sees things happening on the floor and developing before they actually happen,” Donovan said. “He can sniff things out. We can really, really use his mind and his IQ.”

Preseason photos: Chicago Bulls 125, Minnesota Timberwolves 123

Wednesday was the latest in a series of milestones for Ball — and, most importantly, it was just one preseason game. Ball treated it that way, preferring not to fly to any nearby family to play.

But the effort was a positive sign for Ball. He hasn't felt a concussion since returning to five-on-five scrimmages in August outside of a bout with COVID-19, which kept him off the court before training camp and forced him to lose about 10 pounds. After regaining his weight, Ball said he felt strong and ready to play.

The Bulls' expectations for Ball's return to the court are low — he was on a strict 16-minute limit, played two sets of five-minute rotations in the first half and checked in with the medical team at halftime. This pattern will continue throughout the regular season.

The next 48 hours will be crucial for Ball. He will undergo further evaluation Thursday morning, and any soreness could limit his activity in practice. But Ball is also confident he will be available for Friday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ball has been blunt about the reality of his return. He still experienced regular knee pain, a nagging constant he would monitor for the rest of his career. And he won't be the same player on the court — not Wednesday and probably never.

“It's definitely going to be different,” Ball said. “It's not the same body I started with. But I think I can still be productive and effective on the court. That's why I'm still trying to play. … I feel comfortable there. So other than that, I just got to hoop.”

Still, it's a big step for the future of football and sports medicine. No player has ever returned to the NBA — or any of America's major professional sports leagues — after undergoing a knee cartilage transplant.

Ball received two grafts in his third and final operation, one to completely replace his meniscus and another to replace the cartilage separating the knee bone from the rest of the joint. This combination only increased the intensity and infrequency of treatment — and the potential for full recovery.

Ball's talent is not the question. He has an almost uncanny feel for the court, for the movement of his teammates and for the picture-perfect placement of passes. But for many years, Ball's body did not cooperate, not allowing him to maintain his full potential for a reasonable stretch of a season.

“His rookie year, you could definitely tell his trajectory was on a path that he could be an elite point guard in this league,” Donovan said. “And then to take it away and see where he's at now — for me personally, I'm happy that he can get back to doing what he loves.”

Few celebrated the ball's return to the court more than teammates. Kobe White ordered the fans to stand up when the ball checked in for the first time. LaVine ran onto the court after the final buzzer to collect the game ball. And the collective voice of the NBA agrees on this same sentiment: the league is better with the ball.

Gard said he has received support from teammates and opponents, both publicly and privately on social media. Ball also expressed gratitude for the Bulls organization, which continues to emphasize the importance of a slow and steady comeback to preserve his health for the rest of his career — even if he doesn't stay in Chicago.

“They could have pushed me to the side and kept going,” Ball said. “Instead, they were with me the whole way and gave me the best treatment, the best help I could get. All the hard work, it wasn't just from me. It came from a combined unit and it all paid off to get me back on the court today. .”