Lonzo Ball Says Injury Rehab 'Went a Lot Faster Than I Thought' Ahead of Bulls Return

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball says his recovery from the multiple knee surgeries that have sidelined him since January 2022 went "a lot faster than I thought."

"Getting the first surgery and then coming back, and then having the second and third, and telling me 18 more months recovery. You know that sounds crazy in the moment, but now I'm here, and it's all behind me now," Ball said on Wednesday, per Will Gottlieb of CHGO.

Ball is expected to play during Wednesday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has missed the last two NBA seasons while recovering from surgery, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023.

Ball will be restricted to 16 minutes in his return to the court, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he had faced a recovery setback while dealing with a COVID infection that led him to lose 10 pounds, per Poe.

Ball said he had "nothing but love and respect" for the Bulls for working with him through his recovery from his initial surgery to repair a torn meniscus in early 2022. The team initially reported was projected to sideline him for a maximum of eight weeks.

But Ball ended up sidelined for the rest of the 2021-22 season. He underwent a second surgery in September 2022, followed by the transplant the following March.

"They could have just pushed me to the side, and kept moving," Ball said, per Poe. "Instead they've been with me the whole way and given me the best treatment, the best help I can get. It wasn't just from me, it's from a collective unit, and it all paid off to have me back on the court today."

Ball also said he expects to be a different player than the point guard that averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists while playing more than 34 minutes per night for the Bulls during his shortened 2021-22 campaign.

That's in part due to his knee, which Ball told reporters feels different depending on the day.

"It's not the same body I started off with," he said, per Gottlieb. "But I think I can still be productive and effective on the court. That's why I'm still trying to play."

Ball continued: "Like I said, I know what I'm capable of. I feel comfortable out there. Other than that, I just gotta hoop."

The Bulls have just two preseason games remaining before opening the regular season next Wednesday on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.