Bulls' Lonzo Ball Plans to Return from Wrist Injury Before End of NBA's Regular Season

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball plans to return from his right wrist injury before the end of the regular season, according to the Chicago Tribune's Julia Poe.

Ball will sit out Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers but could return as soon as an April 4 matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, per Poe.

Ball last played on Feb. 28. He missed 15 straight games in October and November, as well as the Bulls' last 12 games, with injuries to the same wrist.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan told reporters on March 15 that the team didn't plan to shut down Ball for the rest of the season, and that the guard was not planning on undergoing offseason surgery.

However, Poe reported Wednesday that Ball does not expect to be pain-free until he is able to "undergo a longer recovery process."

Ball returned to NBA action this season after two and a half years spent sidelined by multiple knee surgeries, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023.

In 35 games and 14 starts, Ball has averaged 7.6 points on 36.6 percent shooting from the field (34.4 percent from deep) while contributing 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Starting the season off the bench, Ball's production had begun to climb as the Bulls gave him more minutes and a spot in the starting lineup starting in January. He had recorded double-digit point totals in three of his last four games prior to his most recent wrist injury.

The Bulls have 10 games remaining in the regular season. As of Wednesday, the team remains on track to qualify for the play-in tournament, although whether Chicago beats out the Miami Heat for the No. 9 seed in the East will be determined over this final stretch.

In February, Ball and the Bulls agreed to a two-year extension with a club option for 2026-27. The franchise may need to consider not only the team's playoff hopes but also Ball's long-term health when managing his return to the court.