Ever since Lonzo Ball joined the NBA, he hasn't unleashed that full point-guard potential that saw him drafted No. 2 by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. He was supposed to be the next big thing, mostly according to his father, LaVar Ball, who claimed that his son is "better" than Stephen Curry . Unfortunately, injuries got in the way.
But despite being out of action for a couple of years, it seems Zo borrowed a page from his father's book, as he is confident that he was vying to be considered the best before getting hurt.
"Like every time I catch my stride, something goes wrong," Ball said during an episode of "What An Experience." "Either I get hurt or that one year I was in New Orleans… That month before COVID, if you was to ask me, I think I'm the best point guard in the league."
Lonzo can ball
In college, Zo was a highly rated prospect. There were many speculations that, if not for his father wanting him to play for the Lakers because it was closer to home, he might have moved to a franchise that would have unlocked his potential.
The UCLA product started a solid number of games for the Lakers. However, it never really clicked for him, and after moving to New Orleans in 2019, he played more games and quickly increased his scoring average.
All the talent and hype generated in college began manifesting when he moved to Chicago in 2021. Lonzo fit nicely among a talented core of players that included Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan , Derrick Jones Jr., and Nikola Vucevic. In the 2021–22 season, the Bulls started well, going 23–10 before the turn of the year, and only began to dwindle when Ball suffered a season-ending injury.
A big part of that impressive run was the point guard's ability to control the tempo for the Bulls on both ends. Ball, a vastly improved shooter, went from shooting under 30% from three as a rookie to over 42% in his first season in Chicago, which was the team's saving grace. He powered the Bulls on both ends with a mix of skills and savvy. Before going down in January 2022, the UCLA product was top-2 in blocks, top-3 in steals, and top-10 in 3-pointers made among guards.
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Closing in on a return
In mid-January, Ball was ruled out for weeks due to an injury to his left knee. Unfortunately, weeks turned into months and months into years as regular surgeries kept him out for two-and-a-half seasons—and counting.
However, he has hinted that he is close to returning to the court, and fans can expect to see him at some point in the 2024–25 season.
"[The recovery is] coming along, man, week by week," Ball said about his recovery in another episode. "It's improving, so that's all I can ask for. It's still not where I want to be out of a 100 [percent]. I'd probably say about 70 [percent]—you know, good enough to play but can still get better. [I] still got a long summer ahead of me, but [I'm] definitely looking forward to the future."
The Bulls will hope for his return, even if he's not 100%. Chicago has clearly missed his presence on the team. They went from a potent top seed in the East before his injury to missing the playoffs twice in his absence.
Related: “Can expect me back on the court” - Lonzo Ball gives fans a confident promise he’s ready to go next season
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