“Could have just pushed me!” – ‘Emotional’ Lonzo Ball pens message to Chicago Bulls for support during his injury 

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball makes his long-awaited return to the court in a preseason game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Could have just pushed me!” – ‘Emotional’ Lonzo Ball pens message to Chicago Bulls for support during his injury 

Lonzo Ball expresses his gratitude to the Bulls as he marks his return

The Chicago Bulls remained super excited that Lonzo Ball finally returned to the court. He returns for the preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ball, who has been on the bad side of injury trouble, last played on January 14, 2022. A potential career-ending knee injury sidelined him for a while.

Despite the lengthy layoff, the Chicago Bulls demonstrated their commitment to Lonzo Ball when they picked up his player option. As such, he will gear up for them in the 2024/25 season. In a recent presser, Ball expressed gratitude for the team’s support throughout his long rehabilitation journey.

I got nothing but love and respect for them. They could have just pushed me to the side and kept moving, instead they’ve been with me the whole way and given me the best treatment, best help I can get. All the hard work, it wasn’t just from me, it’s from a collective unit, and it all paid off to have me back on court today.

Lonzo Ball said in a presser (via Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe)

The Bulls guard’s journey back to the court has been arduous. It involved three surgeries since his initial injury, including getting a donor meniscus to aid in his recovery. In March, he began practicing in non-contact situations and steadily progressed.

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It is left to see whether he will recover his best form, which led to him getting drafted number two by the Lakers. There is so much potential if he can stay healthy during the upcoming season. Already he still rates himself highly among the league’s best guards.

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Lonzo Ball set to return after two and a half year recovery

While he remains grateful to the Bulls for their support, he will play a part for the Bulls in their preseason games moving forward. In the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he started off the bench and was welcomed to loud cheers when he punched in for his first game in two and a half years. In the end, he even knocked down a three-point shot immediately.

Lonzo Ball is slated to play with a 16-minute playing restriction to keep him fresh and avoid any injury setbacks. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that his knee feels different daily. He also expects to be a changed player compared to his 2021-2022 campaign, where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.

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The Chicago Bulls have two preseason games left before their regular season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans believe that Ball’s return should mark a significant milestone for both him and the Bulls as they aim to make the playoffs this season.