In addition to Josh Giddey (and maybe even Zach LaVine…), Lonzo Ball will undoubtedly be the player of Bulls the most scrutinized at the start of the 2024/25 season. Not because he has just arrived like the Australian, but because he is going to restart his career.
It's actually been almost 1,000 days since the leader last stepped on an NBA floor. The fault is his multiple operations on his left knee, which have made life difficult for him in recent months. But less than a month before the opening of the regular season, and in continuation of what he envisaged in May, optimism is indeed in the camp of the main interested party.
“ Yes, that's the goal [d’être en tenue le 23 octobre chez… les Pelicans, son ancienne équipe] » he confided during the Media Day of Chicago. “ I can't predict the future, but this is the plan I have in mind and I think I will be ready for the first game of the season. »
Don't rush anything at all
At almost 27 years old (already…), Lonzo Ball is obviously aware that he will have difficulty regaining his former level, or that he will need time to get there. Unsurprisingly, its recovery will therefore take place very smoothly, probably without back-to-backs and with limited playing time, while coming off the bench behind Josh Giddey and Coby White.
“ My knee is almost like new. Of course, it will always be different from the one given to me by God in the first place, but I feel good today » he added.
Just before Lonzo Ball walked past the reporters, it was Artūras Karnišovas who also explained that “ the plan » was to have the 2nd choice of the 2017 Draft in gear from October, even if nothing will be rushed.
“ We're going to have to progress it smoothly » declared the leader of the Bulls. “ He's already played 5-on-5 again, but we haven't seen him yet in training camp, so there will be plenty of lessons to learn from that. It will take time. »
| Lonzo Ball | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | LAL | 52 | 34 | 36.0 | 30.5 | 45.1 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 10.2 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | 47 | 30 | 40.6 | 32.9 | 41.7 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 9.9 |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 63 | 32 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 56.6 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 11.8 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 55 | 32 | 41.4 | 37.8 | 78.1 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 14.6 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 35 | 35 | 42.3 | 42.3 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 13.0 |
| Total | 252 | 33 | 40.0 | 36.4 | 57.8 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 11.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
