Lonzo ball missed all of last season with a knee injury. He also has been excluded for the remainder of this season. His absence coincided with a drop in production of Chicago Bulls.
The ball has a player option on his contract for next season which it is almost certain to resume. However, he has now given Bulls fans a reason to be excited. In a new video recently posted on social media, the playmaking goalkeeper can be seen training on the pitch. His movement seems fluid and he seems to move freely.
The ball was last played on January 14, 2022, where it faced the Golden State Warriors. He was 24 years old when his injury struck him. Missing two years of basketball will undoubtedly have lowered his ceiling as a potential star. Nonetheless, the Bulls had built their roster around Ball’s passing and defense. He was supposed to be the metronome that led them to a championship. These skills are not something you lose. He could still be the player Chicago envisioned himself becoming.
It will be a while before Ball returns to his best. He’ll need to address the on-field conditioning issues that come with such a long layoff. It will take time for him to develop a rhythm with his shooting. And the Bulls will have to be patient with his ability to defend at an elite level on the perimeter.
Still, when Ball returns to the rotation, it will be a significant improvement for the Bulls. However, it will be interesting to see how his return affects Coby White, who is having a breakout season. Luckily for White, we’re unlikely to see Ball this season. Still, several question marks will hang over Billy Donovan’s guard rotation to start next season.
