Lonzo Ball's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) has missed the last two and a half seasons due to multiple surgeries on his left knee, which rendered him unable to climb stairs, let alone play basketball for a while. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the team and Ball are targeting Wednesday's preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as his first game back. His minutes will likely be monitored, and he'll be eased back into the rotation as the season goes on since this will be his first game since January of 2022.

According to Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will suit up at some point during the preseason. He wasn't active for Tuesday's exhibition against the Cavaliers. Yet, Ball's impending return is still much sooner than most anticipated. The 26-year-old hasn't played since January 2022 and has undergone multiple knee surgeries since, including a meniscus transplant. As a result, he'll likely be brought along slowly early in the 2024-25 campaign. However, with Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu in the picture, there are more questions regarding Ball's role than answers. With that said, he'll likely make appearances with the starting lineup this season. Still, Ball isn't expected to be a consistent fantasy producer.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) was an active participant during Friday's practice and 5-on-5 scrimmage. The 26-year-old is hopeful to be on the court for Opening Night. Ball hasn't suited up for a game since January 2022, so it's great to see him getting back on the court. It's unclear what kind of role Ball will have on this rebuilding Bulls roster. Josh Giddey figures to start at point guard, so possibly Ball fills in as the primary backup. When healthy, Ball was a reliable ball handler and an above average defender, but that was two years ago. The Bulls are expected to have heavy restrictions on Ball, which is going to make him tough to trust in fantasy leagues.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) feels he will be ready for the team's opening game of the season on Oct. 23 against the New Orleans Pelicans. "I think I'll be ready for the first game for sure," Ball said during Monday's Media Day. He added that back-to-backs would be off the table for him and that there would be a minutes restriction in place. This will greatly limit Ball's fantasy production. However, it will be nice to see him back on the court after a knee injury took him out for several seasons. Ball's last NBA appearance came in January 2022.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) continues to move toward a return to the National Basketball Association. The 26-year-old hasn't played since January 2022, undergoing multiple surgical procedures on his left knee, including receiving a meniscus transplant from a donor. Fortunately, he increased his workload throughout the summer, progressing to five-on-five scrimmages. Before going down with the injury, Ball had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals. He also shot a much-improved 42.3% from deep. With that said, Ball will likely see the court sparingly once he's cleared to return. But the Bulls have a loaded backcourt featuring Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu. Zach LaVine is also still in the picture, at least for now. As a result, if Ball will have any value for fantasy managers in 2024-25, it may not come for at least a few months, meaning he won't see much attention during fantasy drafts.