Lonzo Ball’s back, baby! After what feels like an eternity, he’s finally stepping back onto the hardwood.
Lonzo’s Long Road to Recovery
Imagine being sidelined for over two years—yeah, that’s been Lonzo’s life. The guy last played on January 14, 2022, and has been battling injuries ever since. But now, he’s eyeing a comeback against the Timberwolves this Wednesday in a preseason showdown. If all goes well, he’ll be ready to rock for the Bulls’ season opener. Talk about a comeback story!
Lonzo’s been pretty vocal about his ambitions. “That’s the goal,” he said about playing in the opener. “Obviously we can’t really tell the future, but that’s the plan I’m on.” Gotta love the confidence! And he’s not alone in this; the Bulls’ president, Arturas Karnisovas, is backing him up. Still, they’re keeping a close eye on how his knee holds up during training camp. Smart move, if you ask me.
Breaking: Lonzo Ball is expected to return to the court on Wednesday vs. Minnesota, sources told @ShamsCharania.
Ball last played on Jan. 14, 2022 and is coming back from cartilage transplant surgery.
— ESPN (@espn)
Adjusting the Game Plan
Lonzo admits that he might not be the high-flying athlete he once was. “Obviously I’m not going to be as athletic as I once was before,” he confessed. But hey, he’s got other tricks up his sleeve. “Skill and IQ can go a long way, especially in the league,” he added. In my opinion, he’s right on the money. Sometimes, it’s not about how high you can jump but how smart you play the game.
The Bulls are planning to ease him back in with limited minutes. It’s like when you’re trying to get back into shape after a long break—you don’t just dive into a marathon, right?
Giddey’s Got Game Too
Meanwhile, Josh Giddey is also on the mend. After a gnarly ankle injury during the Olympics, he’s been working hard to get back on track. The Aussie baller is optimistic about being ready for the Bulls’ regular-season opener against the Pelicans. “It’s probably at a point where if it was a play-off game I’d be out there playing,” Giddey said. Smart dude, taking it slow and steady.
Here’s a little YouTube clip of Giddey doing his thing in a preseason game:
Both Lonzo and Giddey are expected to share similar roles in Chicago. Lonzo mentioned, “Obviously we had a lot of success when I was running point guard, getting rebounds, pushing it up, and Giddey is capable of doing the same thing.” Sounds like a dynamic duo in the making, if you ask me.
So, what do you think? Will Lonzo and Giddey make a splash this season, or are we in for more surprises?
