Lonzo Ball could make his long-awaited return next season, according to Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson. The former #2 pick in the 2017 draft has not played an NBA game since January 14th, 2022.
Chicago Bulls Star Could Return Next Season
There’s a ‘growing buzz’ that Lonzo Ball will play next season, per @KCJHoop
“There’s growing buzz from some who talk to Ball that he’ll play next season.”
(Via https://t.co/J4NVi4ZfJg) pic.twitter.com/e5rSmzrTMy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 21, 2024
Bulls Point Guard Could Return Soon
Johnson stated in his article that there is “growing buzz” that the Bulls point guard could return next year.
There’s growing buzz from some who talk to Ball that he’ll play next season…That optimism needs to be measured against the fact that he hasn’t started taking contact or playing 5-on-5. Everyone associated with the Bulls is rooting for Ball. And the Bulls have to give him one more chance unless they trade him, and there was little interest in his contract when it was included in some preliminary talks leading up to the trade deadline, mostly as part of larger packages. Since Ball is almost guaranteed to pick up his player option, if he can play and the Bulls don’t trade him, he’ll be on the Bulls since their only way out would be to have an independent panel of doctors deem Ball’s injury career-ending.
Lonzo Ball Injury History
Prior to an unrelenting avalanche of injury setbacks, Ball was in fine form. The guard averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists during the 2021-22 season.
The former UCLA star’s initial diagnosis was a meniscus tear in January of 2022. He underwent surgery and was slated to only miss six-to-eight weeks. However, the Bulls ruled him out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season after Ball experienced pain in his rehabilitation.
Ball underwent arthroscopic debridement surgery in the offseason, and would eventually miss the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign after yet another unsuccessful rehabilitation. Ball received a cartilage transplant in his left knee last March, and was essentially ruled out of the 2023-24 season as well.
Rumors circulated that Ball was contemplating retirement, but his focus never shifted away from returning to the court. Ball appeared on Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young‘s From the Point Podcast to dispel the rumors surrounding his retirement.
“I’ve always loved playing basketball, it’s just basically something that got taken away from me. It’s gonna be a whole new joy again. I’m gonna be hella happy to be back out there. I never took the game for granted, so for me, it’s just getting your love back…I just gotta tackle[the injury]head on, and whenever that time comes, I’m going to be blessed to be back out there doing what I love.”
Lonzo Ball Injury Update and Chicago Bulls Future
The Bulls were finally able to provide a positive update on Ball’s rehabilitation progress a few weeks ago, when head coach Billy Donovan spoke to the media prior to a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“He started running…Some of the workouts have been really really positive in terms of running, cutting, jumping, doing those things. He’s progressed into that. Responded well. Some of the things — not with my own eyes — the medical guys have shown me is he looks good moving.”
Ball will be 27 years old once the 2024-25 season starts, and his return could greatly improve the Bulls’ outlook towards the future. Pairing him with Coby White could form a fearsome backcourt, enabling Chicago to move on from Zach LaVine and/or DeMar DeRozan.
