New season, new happiness! Lonzo Ball returns to the Chicago Bulls after a long injury layoff. The 26-year-old played 14 minutes against the Pelicans and scored 5 points. Minute limit remains.
After a long injury layoff, Lonzo Ball finally returned to the NBA floor. The Chicago Bulls point guard played in a regular season game for the first time since January 14, 2022 on Wednesday. In the game against the New Orleans Pelicans he scored 5 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes. The Bulls lost to the Pelicans 111-123.
Unobtrusive re-entry
When Ball was substituted on with 6:14 minutes remaining in the first quarter, the moment passed without much fanfare. He had already celebrated an emotional comeback in the preseason after undergoing a cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023. His teammates handed him the game ball and celebrated in the dressing room.
Preparing for the regular season
Ball described his two appearances in the preseason as a “test run” for the regular season. He wants to put the discussions about his knee behind him and concentrate fully on basketball again. “Basketball hasn’t changed,” Ball said after shootaround Wednesday morning. “Now it counts for the balance sheet. So I go out there and play how I play.”
Minute limit and new role
Coach Billy Donovan plans to have Ball come off the bench and limit his playing time to 14-16 minutes per game – at least for the foreseeable future. It was the first time Ball came off the bench since December 20, 2019. “It was important for him to accept that this was his new normal,” Donovan said before the game. “That’s his reality.”
Efficient use of playing time
Ball had three appearances on Wednesday. He hit his first shot, a three-pointer, in the first quarter. He played seven minutes in the second quarter before being on the field for about three minutes in the third quarter until he reached his minutes limit. Ball admitted that the limited playing time is an adjustment, but he is trying to stay productive. “Time is definitely limited, so be as aggressive as possible,” Ball said before the game. “Play with a lot of energy, come in and try to provide a spark off the bench.”
Health management in focus
Ball is not expected to play on consecutive days as the team wants to protect his health. The Bulls travel to Milwaukee on Friday before opening their home game on Saturday. Donovan emphasized that the team will monitor how Ball performs in Wednesday’s game before deciding which game he will be used in.
