Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball returned to action on an NBA basketball court in nearly three years when he played against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Bulls preseason game on Wednesday night, October 16.
The 6-foot-6 guard last played on January 14, 2022 following a series of injuries. Ball faced a lot of setbacks during his rehab, and underwent a risky knee cartilage transplant surgery.
Both the Bulls and Ball announced Wednesday night will be his first game back to the NBA.
ZO IS BACK ❣️
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 14, 2024
Lonzo Ball is set to return on Wednesday vs. Minnesota after missing two full NBA seasons, per @ShamsCharania 🚨
This marks a huge comeback from cartilage transplant surgery, with Ball last playing on January 14, 2022 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/x6MJMJBLob
Lonzo Ball getting warmed up for his return tonight 🙌🏽
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 16, 2024
(🎥 @CHSN__)pic.twitter.com/Kg1FjyzoZL
The crowd erupted as Ball hit his first two shots – both threes – in just the first quarter minutes after checking into the game.
BACK-TO-BACK 3s FOR ZO 🔥pic.twitter.com/xbIYR7Hu3Wpic.twitter.com/w8TddfLKxz
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 17, 2024
Ball even made a hustle play in the first half, blocking Julius Randle’s shot on one play and then getting a steal and saving the ball from being out of bounds and throwing it off behind his back – much to the delight of the home crowd at the United Center.
HUSTLE ZO IS BACK 😤pic.twitter.com/45Lu7a7qRg
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 17, 2024
All in all, Ball finished the game with 10 points on 4-6 FG with two three-pointers, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block in 15 minutes of action.
Lonzo Ball in his first game back after 1,006 days:
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 17, 2024
📊 10 PTS | 4-6 FG | 2-4 3P | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 15 MINSpic.twitter.com/5lQ7pE2Kg2 pic.twitter.com/l8V51LX3Hr
The Bulls gave Ball the game ball after the game with teammates Coby White and Zach LaVine giving out inspiring post-game messages to their longtime teammate.
The team gave Lonzo the game ball 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ejpyeXLiFR
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 17, 2024