According to reports, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball may return next season after all. In a recent edition of the "Bulls Mailbag", NBC's K.C. Johnson stated there is a "growing buzz" that Ball will play next season after missing the last two-and-a-half seasons with a knee injury.
Lonzo Ball's Injuries: A Timeline of Setbacks and Surgery
Ball's injury ordeals began with a torn left meniscus that required surgery in January 2022. He was initially expected to make a full recovery and return before the 2021-22 season's end, however, Ball reported feeling persistent pain in his knee. The setback eventually led to a second surgery for an arthroscopic debridement in September 2022.
The enduring discomfort resulted in a third, more aggressive surgery in March 2023, a cartilage transplant procedure, sidelining him for the entire 2023-24 season.
Despite these hurdles, Lonzo Ball's aspirations to return to play haven't waned. At Bulls media day in October, he expressed the desire to get back on the court, “I definitely plan on playing again...I'm only 25, and I feel like the rehab process has been going well so far, no setbacks."
The Uncertain Road Ahead
While there's certainly a "growing buzz" and some optimism surrounding Ball's return, there are also a lot of reasons to be cautiously optimistic here rather than banking on having the point guard back on the court next season.
A video of Ball dunking hit the internet this week that shows the progress he's making on the court only further bolsters the anticipation that a return may be near. However, as Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune mentions, it's hard to see exactly how explosive and mobile he is from these small look-ins to his rehab process.
It is also worth noting that he has yet to return to 5-on-5 play or been cleared for contact.
Lonzo Ball's potential return sparks various questions, the most obvious of which is: What version of Lonzo Ball will we see should he ultimately return to action in 2024-25? Will he regain his pre-injury form where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 2021-22, or will two-and-a-half seasons of missed time prove to be detrimental?
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