After missing two and a half seasons and waiting just over 1,000 days, Lonzo Ball has returned to the court for the Chicago Bulls.
In Ball's 15 minutes on the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 16, he finished with 10 points, one rebound, one assist, one block and one steal while shooting 50 percent from three.
From the initial meniscus tear on Jan.14, 2022, in a game against the Golden State Warriors to returning earlier this week, the journey for Ball's return has been a long and tough path.
The surgery for the meniscus, an arthroscopic debridement, a cartilage transplant in his left knee and moments of discomfort and setbacks are only part of his path back to the league.
When speaking to the media following the Bulls' 125-123 win over the Wolves, Ball reflected on his return to the court.
"Felt a lot better playing than watching. I couldn't even put it into words how it felt being out there. ... It was definitely a moment I'll never forget.
"- Lonzo Ball
With Ball's return to the court, several players are impacted by his return, whether positive or negative. If Ball can play throughout the entirety of the 2024-25 season, these players and the Bulls will be affected by his play on the court.
1. Zach LaVine
Prior to the 2021-22 season, Zach LaVine lacked a competitive team around him, but more specifically, a guard that set the floor.
When Ball came to the Bulls in the summer of 2021, it would spark a hot start for the Bulls in the 2021-22 season.
In the 33 games he played alongside Ball before his injury, he averaged 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The Bulls would be the top seed in the East at the time of Ball's injury, and this would be the last season LaVine would land an All-Star nod to this date.
Now two and a half seasons later, things are very different for LaVine and the Bulls.
The Bulls have made and lost in the Play-In Tournament twice, with many of the team's failures being placed on LaVine. It came out early last season that LaVine was open to the team looking for a trade for him, with the team being unable to find a trade partner.
Many expect the Bulls to head toward the bottom of the standings this season in hopes of keeping their top-10 protected 2025 draft pick owed to the San Antonio Spurs.
At the same time, many expect the Bulls to try to rehab LaVine's trade stock in hopes a team would be willing to take on his big contract.
With Ball back on the court, some of the pressure will be taken off LaVine, allowing him to do what he does best. One of the better catch-and-shoot and off-ball shooters in the league, LaVine could once again thrive as he did when Ball was playing.
For the Bulls, this could either help in rehabbing LaVine's stock or show the Bulls that LaVine could still be a key member of the team with the right point guard beside him.
2. Jevon Carter
One of several guards who have signed with the Bulls during Ball's absence, Jevon Carter has struggled during his stint with the team.
Signed in the 2023 offseason to a three-year, $19.5 million contract, Carter was far from the player he was just a season prior.
In 72 games played during the 2023-24 season (all off the bench), Carter averaged just 5.0 points, 1.3 assists and 0.8 rebounds in just under 14 minutes per game.
The 2023-24 season was his worst shooting year from three. Carter received several DNP-CDs from head coach Billy Donovan while he struggled to fit in with the team at times.
In the 2024-25 preseason and entering the second year of his deal, Carter's play has been similar to last season.
Carter did not play in the Bulls' preseason opener against the Cavaliers but would play their next three games. His time on the court dropped from game to game.
With the Bulls lineup heading into the regular season being mostly set at this point, Carter is expected to come off the bench. With Ball returning, though, and likely coming off the bench himself, Carter could see his minutes be further diminished.
With the team shifting its focus toward the younger players, Carter may see little time on the court.
If Ball can remain on the court during the season, he will likely spend most of the time as a backup guard alongside Ayo Dosunmu. With Carter having a player option for the 2025-26 season, the Bulls may look to move on from the backup guard by the deadline with Ball back on the active roster.
3. Josh Giddey
There is no player on the Bulls who will be more impacted by Ball's return more than Josh Giddey.
Acquired in the 2024 offseason in a trade for All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso, Giddey was essentially brought to the Bulls to be a Lonzo Ball replacement.
When asked about Giddey's role on the team and if he was seen as a replacement for himself during the Bulls media day in early October, Ball had the following to say about the team's newest guard:
"I think they’re trying to do what’s best for the team. Obviously, we had a lot of success when I was running point guard, getting rebounds, pushing it up, and Giddey is capable of doing the same thing. So, I look at it as like they want to win the most games as possible, and they feel like he can do it, we feel like he can do it, and that’s why he’s here."
- Lonzo Ball
Giddey has received his fair share of criticism going back to his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and has struggled at times with the Bulls in the preseason, particularly when it comes to shooting.
He has been able to stuff the stat sheets but has struggled from three.
The 2024-25 season is the most important season of Giddey's early career, as he is eligible for a rookie extension. While the Bulls have until the beginning of the 2024-25 season to sign him to an extension, they can also wait until the 2025 offseason and let him become a free agent.
While many expected the Bulls to sign Giddey to an extension prior to the beginning of the season as they traded an All-Defensive guard for him without receiving any draft picks, Ball's return may have an impact on not only Giddey's play but what kind of contract offer he receives from the Bulls.
Rumors have previously suggested the Bulls may move on from Ball following the season, but nothing has been set in stone.
If he can remain healthy throughout the season, Ball could be a valuable player for the Bulls going forward. While Ball and Giddey are very similar players, Ball historically has been a better shooter and defender.
While fans have only seen two games from Ball at the time of this writing, he showed he is much like the player he was before the injuries.
For Giddey, a healthy and available Ball is the worst thing that could happen to him in a contract season.
-1734671124-q80.webp "Braxton Jones Back Practicing After Concussion Symptoms")
