After a long 1,006-day journey, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball finally returned to the place he called home for so many years: the basketball court. After spending many agonizing hours off of it, working on getting his knee back to full strength after initially injuring it in a January 2022 game against the Golden State Warriors, Zo was relieved to achieve his goal of playing in the NBA again.
An unforgettable moment
As the months turned to years and with every single timeline change involving Ball's return to play, many grew skeptical of whether he would ever recover. However, the former UCLA star never lost sight of his dream and continued pushing himself through grueling rehab sessions, all with the hope of one day stepping onto the court again.
That moment finally came on October 17, 2024. Lonzo's emotions were overwhelming as he stepped onto the court, hearing the crowd roar and feeling the familiar hardwood beneath his feet.
"It felt a lot better playing than watching, I'll tell you that much," Ball said when asked about how he felt when he entered the game with six minutes left in the first.
"It was definitely a moment I'll never forget," Lonzo emphasized.
Not long after checking in, Zo heard an even louder roar as his three-pointer from the corner swished through the net, giving him his first points since January 14, 2022. Ball finished with ten points in only 15 minutes during the Bulls' 125-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Zo said his knee felt good
Lonzo also eased any concerns regarding how his knee would feel after the game, reporting that it felt good. In fact, the 6-foot-6 guard didn't think about it as he went about his business on the court. Adding more good vibes to the occasion was Zo's announcement that he would play in the Bulls' preseason finale on Friday.
"I didn't feel it at all. I felt like I was moving great. So now it's just about building. Just continue to do it night in and night out," Ball stated .
Aside from the points, Zo had a rebound, an assist, a steal, and a block, showcasing the two-way brilliance that helped push the Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference in 2022.
"My game is pretty simple. I know what I can do out there. It's not too complicated. I'm going to go in, give good minutes, and hopefully contribute to winning," Lonzo expressed. "All the instinctive plays, that's not going to go anywhere. It's more about the on-ball and getting over screens like I used to; getting that back. But off the ball, I feel comfortable."
It's been a long time coming for Lonzo, and now that he's back, he's ready to help the Bulls ascend in the East, especially after missing the postseason in the last two seasons.
Related: "I've just got to continue to keep trusting it" – Lonzo Ball discusses the mental part of the recovery ahead of NBA return
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