Uncertainty has shrouded Lonzo Ball’s career since Jan. 14, 2022. That date is the last time the playmaking guard played an NBA game before missing two full seasons with a left knee injury that required three surgeries in total.
But as the Bulls opened training camp on Monday at the Advocate Center, the expectation is that Ball will be ready for the start of the regular season.
“I pretty much have a brand new knee, so it’s always going to be a little different than you know what God gave me to start off with, but I’m feeling good,” Ball said. “I’m feeling healthy enough to play, so that’s all that really matters.”
Ball brought a fast-paced style of play that invigorated the team and made the triumvirate of guard Zach LaVine, center Nikola Vucevic and forward DeMar DeRozan coalesce.
After trading guard Alex Caruso to the Thunder and sign-and-trading DeRozan to the Kings, Ball returns to a new version of the Bulls. Just four of the 12 players that played in Ball’s last NBA game remain on the roster (LaVine, Vucevic and guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu).
“I feel like I can play with anybody,” Ball said. “I feel a lot older coming back and seeing the guys in here now. We have a young team, but I’m happy for them. I’m excited to get the year started.”
Beyond the new teammates, there were doubts on whether the 26-year-old guard would play again. Ball said he started his podcast, “The WAE Show,” because he had to start thinking about endeavors outside of basketball. Ball hopes to put the injuries behind him as he attempts to resume his career.
The Bulls will be cautious with Ball’s workload. He said back-to-backs are “off the table” and that he’ll be a minutes restriction.
“Going into training camp we’re going to have to bring him up slowly,” executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas said. “Again, we haven’t seen him go through training camp, so there’s going to be a lot of learning experience in training camp in how he can take loads and everyday practices.”
Because of Ball’s absence, the Bulls went out and acquired guard Josh Giddey from the Thunder.
Giddey isn’t as consistent as a shooter as Ball nor as impactful defensively, but he brings a high IQ and playmaking chops the Bulls hope will help improve their 19th-ranked offense from last season.
Ball sees the similarities between himself and Giddey, who was brought in to replace much of what Ball brought to the team.
“I think they’re trying to do what’s best for the team,” Ball said of the team trading for Giddey. “Obviously, we had a lot of success when I was running point guard, getting rebounds, pushing it up, and Giddey is capable of doing the same thing. I look at it as they want to win the most games as possible.”
Ball knows he’ll have to adapt his game to fit his current capabilities, but he’s ready to resume his career.
“I just felt like this was my journey,” Ball said. “It’s not like I wanted to get hurt, it’s just something that happened. You got to deal with obstacles that come in your life and overcome them the best way you know how to.”