Chicago Bulls Point Guard Lonzo Ball is reportedly eyeing a Wednesday return ahead of Chicago’s away game against the Orlando Magic at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Magic will host a likely tired Bulls team that played the Washington Wizards in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and then travel to Orlando, Florida, after the game and subsequent press conference with the assembled media members.
There’s a chance that the Magic can spoil Ball’s return with the Bulls. Ball, 27, went through an extensive workout in front of the Bulls’ coaches on Saturday and had another session on Tuesday, sources told ESPN. The Magic had two much-needed days off, a three-game winning streak, and home-court advantage. The Magic’s most recent win was a 95-84 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in Orlando, Florida on Monday. How will Lonzo Ball play in his return to the court? Read on for further details surrounding Ball’s injury and much more.
Lonzo Ball’s Injury
Lonzo Ball sprained his wrist on Monday, October 28, in the Chicago Bulls’ 126-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tennessee. Ball was hurt while bracing for a fall after a steal attempt. Ball has been sidelined since then, but the Bulls confirmed his return, which should help a wishy-washy Bulls team looking to avoid a two-game losing skid.
On Saturday, Ball went through an extensive workout for the Bulls’ coaching staff. This morning, Ball had a similar workout. It’s unclear if Ball’s recent performances were good or great. However, Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan recently said he’s on track to play for “15-16 minutes in Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, barring any setback.”
Ball So Far This Season
Lonzo Ball has been arguably underwhelming so far this season. Ball has averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 35.7% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point line in 2024-25 at the time of publication. Ball’s career averages are 11.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 40.0% from the field and 36.4% from the three-point line.
Ball last played on Monday, October 28. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 126-123. Ball finished with six points, six assists, one rebound, and one block in 18 minutes played and shot 50.0% from the field and 50.0% from the three-point line. When healthy, Ball is a great three-point shooter, and the Bulls are the fifth-best three-point shooting team this season knocking down 38.5% of those shots.
Ball has been out for nearly a month. Ball’s injury recovery has seemed to go well, but he might take some time to get back into the groove on the court. He likely won’t return to the same form he had with the Bulls during the 2021-22 NBA season. His health has been a topic of concern in recent years, so we’ll see how his return plays out first and provide his health-related updates as necessary.
Chicago Bulls’ Outlook
The Chicago Bulls’ outlook on Lonzo Ball seems to be positive. The Bulls are 7-11 on the young NBA season after parting ways with some players this offseason and keeping some key players, such as Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine. LaVine, 29, is a shooting guard best known as a two-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion.
On Monday, Donovan announced Ball would be traveling with the team on their upcoming road trip, which was an encouraging sign. Ball’s return could steer the Bulls in the right direction, but it’s important to proceed with caution with Ball. Ball delivered promising results in 2021-22 but has struggled to reproduce those results in the subsequent seasons.
