Bulls ball back: 'Just trying to get good minutes'

NEW ORLEANS — When Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball checked in during the first quarter Wednesday, his first regular-season game in more than two years, he did so without fanfare.

He had an emotional return in the preseason — when he played in an NBA game for the first time since a cartilage replacement in his left knee in March 2023 — and his teammates presented him with the game ball and celebrated in the locker room.

But on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, he officially played in his first regular-season game since January 14, 2022, recording 5 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes in a 123-111 loss to Chicago.

Later, Ball played down the significance of this latest milestone.

“It was pretty similar to the preseason games, to be honest,” Ball said. “There were the same shots. There were the same minutes. Capitalizing on the time I'm out there.”

According to coach Billy Donovan, the Bulls plan to bring Ball off the bench and limit his minutes per game to 14-16 for at least the foreseeable future. Ball came off the bench for the first time since December 20, 2019 on Wednesday.

“For him, he's been able to wrap his head around that this is my new ideal,” Donovan said before the game. “This is my reality.”

However, Ball said his most important contribution was simply being available.

He appeared in three short games against the Pelicans, including knocking down the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer in the first quarter. He checked in for an extended stretch during the second quarter, playing seven minutes. His final appearance came in the third, when he was limited to nearly three minutes before hitting his limit for the night.

Donovan said he saved a few minutes for Ball when the game was tied in the fourth quarter, but the situation didn't arise for him to come back.

“I always want to be there,” Ball said. “But I have to listen to the staff, my team and try to move forward in the best way possible.”

Ball called his two preseason appearances a “trial run” leading up to the regular season, but he's looking forward to putting the talk about his left knee behind him and focusing on basketball. He has had three arthroscopic knee surgeries since playing in his last game 1,000 days ago.

Admits playing ball on a short minute limit has been an adjustment, but he's tried to find ways to stay productive.

“I'm happy to be on the court,” he said. “Coach is calling my name, I'm just trying to get good minutes.”

Ball is not expected to play back-to-back as the Bulls manage his health. Chicago has a game in Milwaukee on Friday before Chicago's home opener on Saturday, but Donovan said the team will watch how Ball comes out of Wednesday's game before determining his availability this weekend.

“I feel good,” Ball said. “Maybe it would have been a little better if we had won, but it's all good. On to the next one.”

Chicago gave up 30 points on turnovers Wednesday night, tied for the most allowed since the start of last season.

“We stepped up a little bit,” said Bulls guard Jake LaVine, who finished with 27 points but seven turnovers, his most since December 2022. “Obviously we're trying to play the right way, but we also had too many turnovers and just didn't get enough stops.”