Lonzo Ball’s Comeback Quest
Alright, hoop heads, let’s dive into the saga of Lonzo Ball and his long road back to the court. It’s been a wild ride for the Bulls’ guard, who’s been sidelined with injury woes for what feels like foreverโtwo-and-a-half years, to be exact. But guess what? Lonzo’s got his eyes set on making a splash in Chicago’s season opener. He last suited up on January 14, 2022, and now he’s telling us he’s ready to roll when the Bulls face off against the Pelicans. “Thatโs the goal,” Lonzo said with confidence. “I think Iโll be ready for the first game for sure.”
Training Camp Trials
Arturas Karnisovas, the big boss in Chicago, is backing Lonzo’s optimism but with a side of caution. “Thatโs the plan,” he confirmed, but also mentioned they need to keep tabs on how Lonzo’s knee holds up during training camp. “Weโre going to take it one step at a time,” Karnisovas added. Lonzo’s been hitting the gym hard, playing some 5-on-5, but the real test will be how he handles the daily grind of camp.
Lonzo Ball in the gym.
(via @chicagobulls)
โ Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral)
But let’s be realโcoming back from an injury like this ain’t easy. Lonzo himself admitted that he’ll probably be on a minutes restriction early on. “Obviously, Iโm not going to be as athletic as I once was before,” he said, but he’s banking on his skills and basketball IQ to carry him through. In my opinion, Lonzo’s got the smarts to adapt his game and still make an impact.
Giddey’s Gritty Recovery
Switching gears, let’s talk about Josh Giddey, another baller on the mend. The Aussie guard messed up his ankle during the Olympics while playing for Australia. It was a tough breakโliterallyโagainst Serbia, where he rolled his ankle and watched his team blow a 24-point lead. Ouch! But Giddey’s been grinding through rehab and says he’s on track to join the Bulls for the season opener. “If it was a play-off game, Iโd be out there,” he assured.
You can catch more about this in the YouTube clip below:
Giddey flew back to Melbourne post-Olympics to get his ankle checked out, and it’s been a slow but steady recovery. He’s aiming to be ready for action against the Pelicans too. I think the Bulls could have quite the dynamic duo if both these guys are healthy and firing on all cylinders.
So, here’s the million-dollar question: Will Lonzo and Giddey light it up for the Bulls this season, or are we in for more injury drama? Only time will tell, but I’m betting on some fireworks in Chicago!
