After Missing Two-And-A-Half Seasons, Lonzo Ball Guard Nearing Comeback

Long-injured Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball might actually, really, truly be working towards a return to the hardwood.

For real this time.

Though fans have heard that Ball might return from a series of knee surgeries for the past two seasons now, the former UCLA Bruins standout and No. 2 overall lottery pick is at last taking tangible steps toward a comeback.

According to Jasmyn Wimbish of CBS Sports. Ball partook in a five-on-five scrimmage this week, alongside Memphis Grizzlies Defensive Player of the Year power forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr., All-Rookie Team Dallas Mavericks second-year center Daniel Gafford, and former All-NBA center DeAndre Jordan, now wrapping up his career as a deep-bench reserve on the Denver Nuggets.

Ball had been given the green light to suit up for five-on-five contact workouts since the start of the month.

Ball initially signed on with the Bulls on a four-year, $80 million contract during the team’s eventful 2021 summer overhaul. That deal included a $21.4 million player option for 2024-25. Given that the 6-foot-6 vet has only appeared in 35 of a possible 246 regular season games (and missed the club’s only playoff run during that time), it was a foregone conclusion that he would pick up that player option.

The jumbo-sized point guard tore his meniscus on Jan. 14, 2022, during his first season with the Bulls.

“It’s great to see Ball making meaningful progress towards a return,” Wimbish notes. “And while the Bulls are further from playoff contention this season than when he originally signed his contract, it may be an ideal situation for him to make his comeback with the expectations not as high in Chicago.”

When healthy, Ball was an excellent 3-and-D guard, who could also finish with explosive ability around the rim. Given that he has missed two-and-a-half years of action, it’s likely that he will not be able to be the same defensive menace he was before these surgeries.

Across the 35 games Ball did play in 2021-22, Chicago had gone a dominant 22-13 and been one of the top teams in the East, led by All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Ball and All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso helped shore up the club’s defense around the perimeter, while Nikola Vucevic manned the post as (at the time) an efficient jump shooter and rebounder. Ball averaged 13.0 points on a .423/.423/.750 slash line, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks during those 35 games in his last healthy season.

Without Ball, Chicago eventually fell to the East’s No. 6 seed and was quickly booted from the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks in a five-game first-round matchup. Ball has yet to return, and the Bulls have yet to return to the playoffs with him on the shelf.

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