The 2025-26 NBA schedule is finally upon us. The Chicago Bulls' full 82-game slate can be found here. Chicago begins the season hosting the up-and-coming Detroit Pistons and ends the year taking on first-overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
Sandwiched between Detroit and Dallas comes a plethora of notable games, which in turn allow for a multitude of storylines. While the Bulls roster didn't see many new arrivals or marquee departures, there's one specific homecoming that will evoke emotion.
Former Bull Lonzo Ball will make his return to the United Center on December 17 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a refresher, the Bulls sent Ball to the Cavaliers in exchange for forward Isaac Okoro on June 28.
Lonzo Ball will make his anticipated return to Chicago in December
Ball began his tenure in the Windy City in 2021, after being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans. He started his Bulls' career on a high note, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting a career-high 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. More importantly, Ball's arrival coincided with a remarkable turnaround.
After winning merely 31 games in 2020-21, Ball and the Bulls had already compiled 24 wins by January 1, 2022. Unfortunately, Ball played in only six more contests before going down with a meniscus tear in Chicago's bout against the Golden State Warriors on January 14.
Nevertheless, Ball's meniscus tear didn't appear to be season-ending—he was given a six-to-eight week recovery timeline. Yet, as we know, Ball's injury was much worse than anticipated. Discomfort and continuous swelling lengthened Ball's return before the Bulls ultimately shut him down. Chicago finished the 2021-22 season with a 46-36 record, going 19-23 the rest of the way.
Ball would go on to miss the next two seasons. He underwent a second surgery eight months after his first, but still wasn't comfortable running or jumping as the Bulls began the 2022-23 campaign. To finally resolve the nagging discomfort, Ball then underwent a unique cartilage transplant procedure.
He returned to the court in August 2024, more than two years after originally going down with the meniscus injury. Ball made his return to the Bulls' lineup on opening night, October 23, 2024, against his former team—the Pelicans.
Continuing to battle through injuries, Ball appeared in 35 games a season ago, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. The Chicago fan-favorite even earned a contract extension amid trade rumors. Ball signed a two-year, $20 million pact with the Bulls in February.
After signing the extension, Ball played in merely five games before being shut down for the remainder of the season with a wrist sprain. His 14-point performance in a win against the Toronto Raptors on February 28 ended up being his final game as a Chicago Bull.
Now, the former fan favorite will take on the Bulls four times in 2025-26. First, on November 8, before heading to the United Center eight days before Christmas on December 17. Ball and the Cavs will also host the Bulls on December 19 and travel back to Chicago on March 19.
Although Ball's tenure in Chicago wasn't necessarily long nor fruitful, he immediately became a beloved member of the team, and most importantly, his return to the hardwood came while he was suiting up for the Bulls.