The Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball has been in the spotlight for years despite his relatively short NBA career. Whether it be his boisterous father making headlines dating back to Lonzo’s days at UCLA or his public spats with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, much has surrounded the 6-foot-6 guard that hasn’t exactly pertained to his play on the court. After a devastating road to recovery from his knee injury, Lonzo Ball is set to suit up for the Chicago Bulls this season for his first action in two and a half years.
The long journey back to the hardwood has been arduous for Ball, especially considering what his team and his play looked like when he was last on the court. The memories of that time may cloud what his play looks like to start the regular season but Ball and the Bulls are hoping that he can grow into a key contributor for this team and that the successful road to recovery translates to great play in 2024-25.
Lonzo Ball Is Back For the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls start the regular season Wednesday night in New Orleans where they will take on Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. The Pelicans are one of the former teams for Lonzo Ball, the Bulls point guard who is making his return to the NBA this season after a 2.5-year absence due to injury. Ball, who last played in January of 2022, was out battling a knee injury that threatened to end his NBA career.
The 26-year-old point guard is making a comeback that he hopes will help push the Bulls up to a potential play-in contender. When Ball last played for Chicago, the Bulls were squarely in the playoffs and were building toward a deep postseason run with their revamped roster under Arturus Karnisovas. Since then, the wheels fell off without Ball to guide the offense and provide valuable perimeter defense, and the momentum that was mounting went wasted.
Much has changed about this Chicago Bulls team in the time that Ball has been out. There have been changes on the roster but that could be expected over 30 months. The more drastic change for Chicago has been their expectations. When Lonzo Ball was last playing for the Bulls, they had hopes of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and now they would be ecstatic if the team reaches the play-in.
Expectations For a Return
With the current in flux state of the Chicago Bulls, Lonzo Ball’s role will be flexible. As the cautious ramp-up for the guard continues, he will assume a lesser role at the start of the regular season, with the anticipation that as he re-acclimates to the rigors of an NBA season he can take on more responsibility and play more minutes. The performance of the team around Ball will also be a factor for Billy Donovan and the front office when deciding how to navigate his first season back.
When last seen healthy, Ball was the best perimeter defender on the Chicago Bulls, and coupled with an improved shot, was a tremendous floor general for the offense. The team is hoping that he can recapture that at some point this season. If other players like Coby White, Josh Giddey or Ayo Dosumnu are better suited though to help the team, Ball will have his role shifted. His improved shot in the preseason is a good indication that he is ready to adapt to what the team needs him to do during his comeback season.
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