Bulls' Lonzo Ball Delights Fans After Knee Injury; 1st NBA game since 2022 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 16: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball during play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA preseason game at the United Center on October 16, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome back, Lonzo Ball.

The Chicago Bulls guard returned to the court for the first time since January 2022 for Wednesday's preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The score rarely plays a role in preseason play, and it certainly wasn't the focus on Wednesday at the United Center.

The focus was solely on Ball and Julia Poe Chicago Tribune noted that the plan was to limit it to a 16-minute limit.

The restriction was far from surprising as he had undergone several knee surgeries, including a cartilage transplant, since his initial injury in January 2022.

He was expected to miss six to eight weeks and return in time for the playoffs when he first sustained the injury, but he did not make it back to the field that season and suffered several setbacks before returning on the floor.

And he picked up right where he left off, firing his first two shots beyond the arc, facilitating and even blocking Julius Randle.

His return was celebrated by fans on social media:

Ross Pins @chisportsross

Our king has returned

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie

I'm just really excited for the Lonzo Ball tonight. Anyone who watched this guy in high school and saw the innate feel for the game knew he was born to play basketball. I'm glad his body is giving him the chance to do it again.pic.twitter.com/e1IjhfzoJH

KC Johnson @KCJHoop

Ball navigated the first two screens on his first defensive possession – one with the ball, one without the ball.
Hit a 3 on your first shot.
Wow

Big DAVE @BawlSports

Damn, it's nice to see Lonzo on the court

Mike Berman @Mike Berman NBC

It was good to watch Lonzo hit his first shot – a three-pointer from the corner. I can only imagine how good it felt for him! #Bulls

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe

Oh man. Lonzo Ball scores his first 3-point attempt of the game. Perfect splash from the corner and then loud cheers from the crowd.

Cody Delmendo @Cody_CHGO

It's great to see Lonzo on the floor.

Julia Poe @byjuliapoe

Lonzo Ball recorded two assists and a 2-on-2 shot from behind the arc in his first 5-minute rotation tonight.
It seemed pretty comfortable picking up the pace on the court and navigating the screens.
Really promising stuff.

Ricky O'Donnell @SBN_Ricky

Who cares about the Bulls, but Lonzo Ball returning as a real player would be one of the coolest basketball stories of all time

Fred Katz @Fred Katz

Seeing Lonzo Ball now is pretty amazing. Just blocked Julius Randle for help, then a few possessions later scrambled up the floor to steal, chased the ball out of bounds and flew into the stands to save it. For the first time in ages, this guy is playing along and he's not afraid.

Things haven't been the same for the Bulls since Ball suffered his injury in the 2021-22 season. After all, they were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at the time and seemed primed for a possible deep playoff run with a core of Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vučević and Alex Caruso.

But without him, they fell to a No. 6 seed and lost in the first round before losing in the play-in tournament the next two seasons while he was sidelined.

DeRozan and Caruso aren't even on the roster anymore, but a healthy Ball would raise the ceiling for a Bulls roster that might otherwise struggle to compete with the Eastern Conference's top teams, namely the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.

He and the rest of the team will complete another preseason contest to prepare for the upcoming season when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Bulls' Lonzo Ball Delights Fans After Knee Injury; 1st NBA game since 2022 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

ByVanessa

By Vanessa

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