Former Lakers guard Lonzo Ball reacts to the first game in more than two years

For the first time in more than 1,000 days, former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball played in an NBA game.

The 26-year-old, who now plays for the Chicago Bulls, missed more than two full seasons of basketball before returning to the court in the Bulls’ 125-123 preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

Ball was greeted with cheers from the crowd when he took the court for his first game since January 2022. After returning, Ball scored 10 points, grabbed a rebound and had an assist against the Timberwolves. Ball returned to action during the Bulls’ preseason win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, posting 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.

“To be honest, it was just a blessing,” Ball said during an interview with ESPN’s Shams Charania and Malika Andrews. “That number sounds so crazy, even when I read it it was like, ‘man, 1,000 days’. It actually went by a lot faster than it sounded. It’s been an amazing journey, it’s been a long one.”

“I’ve been on this journey, but it hasn’t been a solo journey,” Ball said. “The bulls have been with me 100 percent, my teammates have been with me along the way, coaching staff, upperclassmen, everybody. To get the ball, I still have a jersey signed by everybody, so in that moment, never get it back and I’ll never forget it.”

Ball tore his meniscus in his first season as a Bull, 2021-22. It marked his second such injury after previously tearing the ligament while playing for the Lakers. Ball underwent three arthroscopic surgeries on his knee, including one surgery that no NBA player has ever come back from. It was believed that Ball might not be able to play professional basketball again after his injury. After all, he even had to learn to walk again.

Ball isn’t expected to take on the same role he did before missing more than two years of basketball, but he’s ready to contribute for the Bulls this season.

“I feel like I can get good minutes on the court, but so be it,” Ball said. “I just want to help the team win. There’s nothing I really want to do statistically, it’s just go out there and do my job. I feel like I can still compete at a high level. That’s why I wanted to come back. , that’s why I back, and that’s why I’m still playing.

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