Bulls former No. 2 overall pick fully healthy for first time in years

The Chicago Bulls' oft-injured point guard has finally returned to the court.

According to a report this week from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, former No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball is back to playing 5-on-5 basketball.

"The Bulls confirmed that Ball has started playing in full-contact five-on-five scrimmages – as he was scheduled to do once the calendar flipped to August – and according to one source, has done so with no setbacks," Cowley said.

News of Ball's good health is a ray of sunshine for Bulls fans and the basketball world, in general.

Ball was playing the best basketball of his career in 2021-22 and had Chicago in first place in the Eastern Conference when he went down with a knee injury that has now kept him off an NBA court since January 2022.

Ball's recovery has ventured to some dark places, as he's undergone three separate knee surgeries since being out, including a cartilage transplant.

There were even questions raised as to whether Ball would retire, which would have been tragic for the 26-year-old playmaker who has been brilliant in certain stretches so far in his career.

Notably, once the excitement of Ball's newfound health wears off and he's acclimated back into everyday capacity for Chicago, he may find himself at odds with the Bulls' depth chart.

Ball (when healthy) is used to being a starting point guard in the NBA, or at the very least a backup who receives significant minutes.

However, Chicago is expected to roll out a starting backcourt of Josh Giddey and Coby White, both of whom will receive heavy burn. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan will also be giving high minutes to lead guard Ayo Dosunmu, who has done nothing but improve since joining Chicago and deserves a wealth of pick and roll touches.

Where will Ball fit into the equation? Will Chicago make sure to play him at least sufficiently enough to allow him to rekindle his trade value?

These are burning questions for the Bulls that will have to wait. For now, Ball's health alone is cause for celebration.

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