Lonzo Ball last played in an NBA game on Jan. 14, 2022, when the Chicago Bulls were blown out by the Golden State Warriors 138-96 at the United Center.
Since then, he's had three surgeries on his left knee, including a double cartilage transplant. He hasn't played in 21 months.
There has been (almost) nothing but positive news coming out of Bulls training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season, as Ball, head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago front office all said they expected the 26-year-old point guard to return at some point this preseason.
That date has finally been revealed.
Bulls guard Lonzo Ball to play Oct. 16 against Timberwolves
Ball said he expected to play in two of Chicago's final three preseason games, the first of which comes tonight (Oct. 14) in Milwaukee.
Rather than get his career restarted on the road, the former No. 2 overall pick will return to an NBA floor at home at the United Center against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After missing two straight NBA seasons, Chicago’s Lonzo Ball is expected to make return to basketball on Wednesday vs. Minnesota, sources told ESPN. A major comeback from cartilage transplant surgery for Ball, who last played Jan. 14, 2022. pic.twitter.com/tuJCF4GYQW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 14, 2024
"I'm sitting the first two preseason games, expecting to play the last two, maybe two of the last three, one of those in there but everything is going along, feeling good, knee's feeling good. ... Just looking forward to the future, really," Ball said on The WAE Show podcast.
Barring any setbacks, the UCLA product will be ready for the regular-season opener on Oct. 23 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
He won't play back-to-backs this year and will be on a minutes restriction, but having Ball back on the floor will benefit him and the Bulls.
Perhaps a solid year by both could result in some Comeback Player of the Year votes being the highlight of Chicago's season.