CHICAGO – Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball received a standing ovation while checking in for Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center, marking his return to basketball after a 2.5 season absence due to chronic left knee pain and operations.

Ball checked in for Josh Giddey with 6 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first quarter and made his first shot, a catch-and-shoot corner 3-pointer, just 30 seconds later. Ball, who had not appeared in an NBA game in 1,006 days, played under a 16-minute restriction.

He finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting in 15 minutes in Chicago’s 125-123 win over Minnesota.

The United Center welcomes back Lonzo Ball 🙏 pic.twitter.com/E56hJL0qwH

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 17, 2024

Ball said Wednesday that his left knee felt fine and that he never thought about it during the game.

“That’s a positive thing,” he said. “I didn’t feel it at all. I felt like I was moving great. So now it’s just about building. Just keep doing it, night in, night out.”

Ball didn’t hesitate to confirm he would play in the Bulls’ preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

“Yes, I will definitely play on Friday,” he said. “So hopefully I can make the same effort.”

Ball has undergone three surgeries on his left knee to address the chronic pain he began experiencing during the 2021-22 season, his first with the Bulls. He was limited to 35 games that season before undergoing meniscus and cartilage replacements, and the Bulls spent 35 days in first place in the Eastern Conference before Ball suffered his injury.

His knee surgeries were considered last-ditch, career-saving procedures.

No player in NBA history has achieved the kind of comeback that Ball is making. Ball turns 27 on Oct. 27 and has career averages of 11.9 points, 6.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game over four seasons.

Despite his dismissal, he wasn’t surprised by his effectiveness on Wednesday. Ball said he was pleased with his 15 minutes, which saw him get glimpses of sharpshooting, court vision, playmaking and elite defensive rotations.

“My game is pretty simple,” Ball said. “I know what I can do there. It’s not that complicated. I’m going to go in, make good minutes and hopefully contribute to the victory.

“All that instinctive play, it’s not going anywhere. It’s more about the ball and overcoming screens like it used to be; get that back. But I also feel comfortable off the ball.”

LONZO COMES BACK WITH A SPLASH 💦 pic.twitter.com/DEz3fvNr1W

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 17, 2024

When asked if he doubted this day would come, Ball dismissed the possibility and expressed confidence in his ability to return to action.

“Not really, to be honest. I had a goal to get back on the field,” he said. “And I knew it was a long journey, a long process. But it all paid off because this is what I was looking forward to. I’m just happy that it’s here now and that I can finally get out there and do what I love most.”

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(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)