Lonzo Ball, the man who’s spent more time on the treatment table than the court in recent years, is finally set to make his long-awaited return to the NBA in the 2024/25 season. Yes, you read that right! The guy who was supposed to save the Lakers, then the Pelicans, and now the Bulls, is gearing up to play actual basketball again after more than 1000 days. That’s over two years, a pandemic, and a few hundred bad Lakers’ games ago. Let’s face it, some of us weren’t sure if we’d see him again outside of TikToks and Ball family cameos.
Drafted second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Lonzo arrived with high expectations and an even higher buzz (thanks in part to his dad, LaVar Ball, who was the walking, talking version of a hype train). But since then, Lonzo’s NBA career has looked more like a highlights reel of injuries. Knee problems, shoulder issues—you name it, Lonzo’s had it. And if that wasn’t enough, he became a frequent flyer in the rehab zone.
Now, after a whopping 1006 days off the hardwood (yes, someone’s actually counting), Lonzo is ready to take another swing with the Chicago Bulls. His last game? January 2022. That’s like 10 seasons in basketball years! His absence even led some to wonder if the next time we saw Lonzo would be in a documentary titled “What Could’ve Been?”
What Actually Happened to Lonzo?
Here’s a recap of Lonzo’s turbulent journey through hoops hell:
- After getting drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, Lonzo struggled with shoulder and knee issues before getting shipped off to the New Orleans Pelicans. That was strike one.
- In 2021, he landed with the Bulls and, just as he started looking like his best self, his knees betrayed him again. Strike two.
- By January 2022, he was posting impressive numbers, but then his body said, “Not today!” and benched him for what felt like an eternity. Strike three? Not quite.
What followed was two surgeries, rehab setbacks, and the sad reality of watching his team while he perfected his sideline fashion game. He missed not one, but two full seasons, leaving fans to wonder if his career was all but over.
But here we are—October 16, 2024, Lonzo Ball is back, and he’s set to play in the Bulls’ preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Yeah, it’s only preseason, but for Lonzo and Bulls fans, it might as well be Game 7 of the Finals. The real question is, can he finally stay on the court? Coach Billy Donovan seems cautiously optimistic, noting that Lonzo’s “timing is coming back.” Let’s hope his knees don’t time out before the regular season.
What’s Next for Lonzo?
Let’s not sugarcoat it—expectations are modest for now. All Lonzo has to do is make it through the last two preseason games without breaking down like a 1998 Corolla. Only after that will the Bulls decide how risky it will be to unleash him in the regular season. If all goes well, he’ll make his full return when the Bulls take on the New Orleans Pelicans on opening night. How poetic is that? Facing the team that once thought they’d be part of his career revival.
And hey, if things don’t work out this time, Lonzo could always team up with his brother LaMelo in Charlotte. Maybe a Ball Bros reunion will finally happen in the NBA…or at least on YouTube.
For now, Bulls fans, mark your calendars and cross your fingers (and maybe your toes). Lonzo’s journey back from the abyss is almost complete, and we’ll soon find out if he’s truly ready to run the show again or if this return is just another pit stop in a career riddled with setbacks.
.jpg){kind=link}