It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lonzo Ball on the basketball court. In fact, January 14th, 2022 was the last time we saw the former UCLA point guard.
Fast forward to more than two years later, and we finally have a positive update on the older Ball brother.
On the recent episode of his “What An Experience” podcast, he gave Bulls fans an update on his status for the 2024-2025 season. Ball explained he expects to be available for the first game of the season.
“Yes. I firmly believe that,” Ball said. “That’s the plan that I’m on. And I haven’t had any setbacks. I expect to play the first game.“
Lonzo Ball on his readiness for next season
BREAKING: Lonzo Ball says he expects to play in the Bulls’ season opener next season.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 24, 2024
(via @TheWAEShow) pic.twitter.com/ND2LMIV83O
The meniscus tear he suffered is no longer a major issue, as a donor actually gave Ball a new one. With that said, the point guard needs to just continue his rehab and conditioning to be fully 100%.
A Focal Point Of The Bulls’ Offense
Chicago will be welcoming back Ball with open arms. In the 35 games he played for the Bulls, the team was 22-13. He made the offense flow, helping guys like Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan get good looks at the basket.
Since his injury, the team hasn’t looked the same since. Chicago had the eighth-worst offensive rating this season, and the same can be said for the year before.
It seemed as if Ball was finding his true self for the first time after joining the Bulls. After stints in Los Angeles and New Orleans, Chicago felt like home for the point guard. He was averaging 13 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG on 42.3% shooting before he went down. Ball was shooting a career-high 42% from beyond the arc, which were a big improvement from his previous seasons.
Ball was a second-overall pick once upon a time. He will look to show the world why he was worthy of that selection when he steps back on the court for the first time.
Make sure to visit Belly Up Sports every week and follow me on Twitter/X! Also, check out me and my co-host Brian Germinaro on the Third and Ten Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts!
Featured Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
