Right in the middle of the first quarter of the Bulls’ preseason game, Lonzo Ball made a triumphant return to the hardwood for the first time in over a thousand days! After many many speculations, injuries, ramp-ups, and much more, his return was long-awaited. Even when many doubted his return and intentions, Lonzo remained optimistic about redemption. After all, it is rare that a player gets a standing ovation – that too in a preseason game. But people welcomed him with open arms, in a thunderous round of applause.

Likewise, his teammates and everyone in the franchise felt pride in seeing him come back. “I was just personally really happy for him,” head coach Billy Donovan said after the game. But no matter how loud the welcome was, there still stands a fear of him overexerting himself on the court in the future.

Even as he looked comfortable, his approach going forward will have to be extremely delicate. The franchise is willing to use him but with careful observation. He only played for approximately 15 minutes in the game. But as his team waits and hopes that the former Laker does regain his rhythm soon, the Bulls can’t sideline their season’s ambitions.

Brian Windhorst spoke about the Bulls’ strategy in a season that Ball hopes to re-establish himself as an integral member of the org. “I don’t think they are counting on anything from him,” Brian Windhorst said on Hoops Collective.

He continued, “Yeah, I mean, they’ve moved on from him as a player they can count on. They’ve drafted and signed Coby White to an extension, they traded for Josh Giddey”. 

To fill the playmaking void that the savvy point guard leaves in the starting lineup, the Bulls added Josh Giddey ($8 million salary) in the offseason. Furthermore, after the disposition of DeMar DeRozan, Coby White ($36 million extension) is projected to become the leading talisman for the Windy City.

But no matter what Brian Windhorst says, or the others say, Lonzo Ball was happy to be back. “I can’t even really put into words how I felt out there. I was just blessed and happy to be out there. All the support around me was great all night. It was definitely a moment I’ll never forget,” he said after the game.

Lonzo Ball went under three surgical procedures on his left knee, including a rare cartilage transplant in 2023. The hooper has now overcome the seriousness of the situation, looking ahead to his “new” stint with the Bulls.

But what exactly will his job entail?

Lonzo Ball could brighten the Chicago Bulls’ bench unit

No NBA player has managed to come back from a cartilage transplant until Lonzo Ball. In hindsight, the procedure requires him to accustom himself to a different rhythm. Against the Wolves, that didn’t seem to be a hindrance. He logged 10 points and was swiftly moving along the floor, making defensive interruptions whenever possible.

But Tim MacMahon strongly believes it is difficult for Ball to play big minutes again, or at least for a significant amount of time. “The days of Lonzo being a 35-minute starter probably aren’t coming back,” the analyst said. But with him coming off the bench, the Bulls can extract his natural instincts and acumen to strengthen their second unit.

“I think it’s realistic. Hopefully, Lonzo Ball can be a guy who is a high-level limited minutes bench player for a long, long time because if he can still guard and last night he moved well again he developed into a really good shooter you know the IQ is going to be there. You know he does all the things. He wasn’t that superstar people were hyping him up to be as a No. 2 overall pick, but he became an awesome connector,” MacMahon concluded.

In his first game back, scoring didn’t seem to be a worry for Lonzo Ball. His renewed jumper produced two three-pointers in 15 minutes of action, and he looked comfortable holding his position. With Caruso out of the ranks, Ball’s presence as a defensive anchor will be crucial, especially in those small spurts where the Bulls can capitalize on his abilities.

At 6’6″ he is much larger than most guards his size and has shown versatility to defend wings with remarkable results. Naturally, as he acclimates himself to his role, the plays will start beginning from him, harnessing his inherent playmaking skills. Despite a major injury curtailing his minutes, there is no doubt that Lonzo Ball can become a celebrated player till the time he recovers his full fitness.

With his unwavering outlook and positivity, it’s not maniacal to think Ball can’t become a starter again. At the time of his injury, very few believed he could return. Lonzo has managed to do that. Once he starts to find a comfortable rhythm and adapts to it, the improved shooter has the capability of becoming a big minutes player again. The process, though, will be grueling and at times frustrating too. Do you think Lonzo Ball can become a starter in his career? Let us know your views in the comments below.