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Lonzo Ball's status is up in the air for the Chicago Bulls' preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the point guard indicated that he could suit up on NBA opening night, there are still doubts about his participation in the preseason. Ball isn't officially ruled out yet but is unlikely to play against the Cavaliers.
According to Bulls coach Billy Donovan, he is still ramping up as he continues contact practice in scrimmages. Ball hasn't seen the floor since Jan. 14, 2022, with a left knee injury ruling him out of participation. A tough road to recovery that required three surgeries also saw the veteran point guard miss the entirety of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
However, Ball is back and has looked promising during practices. On Friday, his backcourt partner Coby White told reporters that the former Pelicans guard has been 'aggressive' and not shying away from contact, playing like he wasn't hurt for such a long period.
Lonzo Ball confident amid ramp-up process
Lonzo Ball remains confident of a successful comeback from a two-and-a-half-year injury hiatus. He isn't physically close to the level he was playing at before the injury bug. However, Ball is relying on his IQ to play smarter and not let physical limitations become a mental hurdle.
“Today was probably my best day,” Ball said after practice Friday (h/t Chicago Tribune's Julia Poe). “It’s getting better each time.”
“I just play the game a lot smarter,” Ball said. “That’s really what I have to focus on — just keeping my IQ to be ahead of things.”
It might take him a while to come close to where he was before the injuries. It's a natural process, and Ball seems willing to let things happen steadily. It's a promising sight for him individually, as the 26-year-old can still offer plenty on the court if he remains healthy.
Lonzo Ball's skill set and size as a point guard make him one of the most unique players in the league who can impact any team efficiently. That was seen during his pre-injury stint with the Bulls, who were rolling with him in the lineup.
Things went downhill for Chicago after Ball's injury, and it's yet to recover from those blows, leading to the team looking to blow up their core after DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso's departures.
Ball will also likely be among those candidates, alongside veterans Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
