Lonzo Ball is officially back.

After missing two and a half seasons due to a litany of knee problems, the Chicago Bulls guard returned to the court on Wednesday in the season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was his first match in 1,013 days.

He scored his first basket late in the first quarter, drilling a game-tying, catch-and-shoot 3-pointer.

Ball’s previous last game was on January 14, 2022. His injury was initially described by the Bulls as a bone bruise, before being revealed as a meniscus tear that required surgery. Things only got worse from there, as Ball didn’t progress fast enough to return that season. The injury continued into the following season after he underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure, which ultimately ended the season, and he underwent a cartilage and meniscus transplant in March 2023.

Basically, everything that separated Ball’s two largest bones in his left knee had to be replaced. It was no wonder he couldn’t return for the 2023/24 season. Ball was finally cleared for five-on-five work this summer and was able to play in the preseason.

It’s hard to say what the Bulls can expect from Ball. He was a longtime point guard with strong defense and was finally making progress with his three-point shot at the time of his injury, but three knee surgeries and two years of inactivity leave little certainty. He could be just as good as he was before his injuries. He could no longer be a solid rotation player.

Whatever happens, Wednesday was an achievement in itself.