Lonzo Ball Injury Update: Bulls star set for Opening Night return in new NBA season 

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is set to return for the 2024-25 NBA season. Ball last appeared for the Bulls during the 2021-22 season before suffering a torn meniscus 35 games into the season.

On Monday afternoon, Ball shared a major injury update ahead of the new season.

Lonzo Ball is expected to return for the Bulls and is planning to suit up as soon as the season opener. The Bulls will go on the road to take on the New Orleans Pelicans in their season opener on Oct. 23.

The point guard has gone through a long recovery process after requiring cartilage transplant for the same knee in 2023 that kept him out of play for the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

In 35 games in 2021-22, Ball's most recent season, the guard averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

Ball will start the season coming off the bench and will face a heavily monitored minutes restriction upon his return.

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Lonzo Ball discusses knee injury at Chicago Bulls media day

The Chicago Bulls held their media day on Monday afternoon ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. During the event, Ball fielded a question regarding his knee.

"We had a couple conversations about it so far. Obviously, back-to-backs are off the table right now," Ball said. "I'm definitely going to be on minutes restriction. We don't have a set number yet, but there will be one. It's going to be constant communication throughout the year because it is, sort of, a new project if you will, that we all have to get through together."

He also spoke about his confidence in his health entering his first season in over two years.

"I pretty much have a brand new knee. Feeling good, feeling healthy enough to play so that's all that matters," he said.

The No. 2 overall pick from the 2017 NBA draft is set to enter his eighth season in the NBA and should feature in his first game since Jan. 14, 2022.

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