Lonzo Ball hopes to join Bulls for first game of 2024-25 season

Lonzo Ball hopes to join Bulls for first game of 2024-25 season originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago

Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball Said he’s about 70% healthy in the first episode of his new podcast “What An Experience.” In the second episode, which was released on Friday, he detailed his expectations for his long-awaited return to the NBA.

“I firmly believe that,” Ball said when asked if he expects to suit up for the Bulls this season. “That’s the plan I’m following and I haven’t had any setbacks.

“I hope to play the first game.”

In the first episode, Ball said he could probably return to the court today if he wanted. But he obviously wants to continue rehab to get his status closer to 100%.

Ball has not stepped on an NBA court since January 2022. Since then, he has undergone three separate knee surgeries, including meniscus repair, arthroscopic debridement and cartilage transplant. He explained the gruesome details of his injury on the podcast too.

“Long story short, ultimately it all started with the meniscus tear,” Ball said. “Basically, it all started with the Lakers when I first tore up. I tore it a few more times to a point where there was no more, basically, there wasn’t much meniscus left and bone on bone was rubbing.

“So the cartilage was gone and the bone was messed up, so I had to actually get a new meniscus from a donor. I had to get a bone allograft and I also had to put in some cartilage. Finally, I recovered and I’m back on the court now.”

Returning to the court would be an incredible and historic achievement for Ball. Apparently, no athlete has returned to competition after an injury on Ball’s level.

This is arguably the closest Ball has come to returning to an NBA court in 2.5 years. There were early instances in Ball’s rehabilitation where he was unable to perform everyday tasks without pain, such as climbing stairs or jumping.

It’s a crucial off-season for Ball, who is entering the final year of the four-year contract he signed with the Bulls in the summer of 2021. In the first week of May, Ball assured that, choosing your player option worth $21.3 million in the final year of his contract.

On the radio with 670 The Score during the first week of April, Ball LaVar’s father designed your child is 4-5 months old before he can play full-contact 5-on-5 basketball. A four-month timeline of LaVar’s projection predicts Lonzo will return around August; a return closer to five months would put it in early September.

Either date puts him in line to be ready to play when the regular season begins in October.

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