Lonzo Ball is still with the Chicago Bulls, despite not playing since January 2022 due to ongoing knee issues.
The former No. 2 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers has undergone three surgeries on his left knee but has recently made progress, participating in five-on-five workouts this summer.
The Bulls had the option to waive Ball's contract, but that would have required additional financial commitments, which the team was unwilling to make.
As a result, Ball has been collecting paychecks for over two years, and this season marks the final year of his contract.
When healthy, Ball was a valuable two-way player. The Lakers drafted him in 2017 but traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the deal to acquire Anthony Davis.
During his time in Los Angeles, he played 99 games, averaging 10.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game.
After joining the Bulls in 2021, Ball had a strong season, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. His absence has been felt, and the team has adjusted, with Coby White stepping into the starting point guard role.
In a new conversation with longtime basketball insider Marc Stein on the latter's Substack , former two-time All-Star Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, now Ball's teammate with the Bulls, unpacked Ball's comeback effort.
"I've heard that he's been looking good … that he's been doing everything that he can to get back," Vucevic said. "I'm excited to see him back in the game when we get back in Chicago, see how everything looks. I really hope for him that he's able to play and be back.
"I can't imagine, at that age (26) especially, having to miss two and a half years. It was very difficult for him to deal with different treatments, surgeries and all that. It's a long road to come back and so, hopefully, I really hope for him that it pays off and he's able to play again. He'll mean so much to our team because of his talent and everything."
Vucevic appreciated Ball's contributions prior to the knee surgeries. Coby White is now very clearly Chicago's starting point guard going forward. If healthy, Ball seems poised for more of a reserve role. If he can string any healthy games together.
"When he was playing, we were playing much better. He was a big part because of his playmaking, his defense, his shotmaking ability as well. He was a huge part of what we were doing.
"He was a big guard and that was big for us, so losing him was kind of tricky," Vucevic continued. "It wasn't an injury where we knew how long he would be out. We were always kind of waiting. And then we knew all of last year that he would be out."
As Ball continues his recovery, there is a lot of hope he can contribute again. If he returns to form, he could provide significant support to the Bulls, given his skills in playmaking and defense.
However, he may need to settle into a reserve role, depending on his health and the team's needs moving forward.
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