After being sidelined for two full seasons due to injury, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return on opening night of this season.

Ball played 13 minutes in his return to the court, scoring five points, four assists and two rebounds. Ball missed the next game, which was the front end of a back-to-back, and then returned for two games in a row before being sidelined again.

Ball is currently dealing with a wrist injury and has no timetable for his return, but has been cleared to return to dribbling. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan announced that Ball is still experiencing pain in his wrist but will be able to dribble soon and has no problems with his knee.

It’s the knee that has kept Ball out for more than two seasons, so it’s encouraging to hear there are no issues on that front. The announcement that Ball will soon start dribbling is also encouraging news from the Bulls.

The Bulls have started this NBA season with a 4-6 record, which is about the level of play many expected from them. While not one of the worst teams in the league, the Bulls are not expected to be in the playoffs after parting ways with DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso last summer.

While veterans like Ball, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic remain in Chicago, there is a chance these players could be involved in trade rumors near the deadline if they are healthy and productive at the time.

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