Watch: Lonzo Ball elevates for dunk in first appearance on a basketball court in 2 and a half years
Lonzo Ball is doing everything possible to make his return to the basketball court next season. The Chicago Bulls star has been out of action from the NBA games for over two and half years now. Ball’s recovery has been a point of discussion in the NBA world. However, the latest video is giving hope that the star guard can return for the 2025 season.
On Sunday, Overtime posted a video of Ball throwing a self-alley-oop and dunking in a practice facility.
Lonzo Ball has been constant in making a recovery since the meniscus transplant in his knee. Although he has been dunking the ball, there hasn't been a video of him playing 5-on-5 or 3-on-3 basketball, which would normally indicate that the Bulls guard is not fully ready to make his return early in the 2024-25 season.
Several sports doctors like Brian Sutterer have expressed their fear that Ball might never be 100% for playing the NBA games. Sutterer said that while a meniscus transplant helps a person not to feel any pain, playing in the NBA with a transplant is a different scenario.
Lonzo Ball might return for 2024-25 season
Lonzo Ball’s future in the NBA has been a topic for discussion for over a year now. Since his knee injury in 2022, Ball has undergone several knee surgeries but has been unable to return to the court.
However, the Bulls player hopes to return to the court next season. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, Ball is expected to make his return in 2025; however, the date of his return to the court has not been decided yet.
"Team officials are confident Ball, out since Jan. 14, 2022, due to a chronic knee ailment, will play next season. They’re just not as confident about when," Mayberry said. "Opening night doesn’t sound likely."
Earlier this year, Ball picked his player option with the Bulls, which would keep him with the team for the upcoming season. However, if Ball doesn't return to court next season, it will only cloud his future NBA career.
Lonzo Ball had a cartilage transplant surgery to finally fix his knees. He got the cartilage from a donor.