Lonzo Ball scores 10 points in his return and reflects on his rehab journey: 'It's all in the past now.'

 CHICAGO — Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return to the NBA on Wednesday night, stepping onto the court for the first time in over 2½ years. As he checked into the game, the United Center erupted in a standing ovation. Ball raised his hands in gratitude and tapped his heart, savoring the moment before taking the court again since January 14, 2022.

Limited to 15 minutes of play, Ball finished the night with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, contributing to the Bulls' 125-123 preseason win against Minnesota.

"Felt a lot better playing than watching," Ball reflected post-game. "I can't even put into words how it felt to be out there. It was definitely a moment I'll never forget."

Ball's journey back to the game has been challenging, marked by three arthroscopic surgeries on his left knee, including a rare double cartilage transplant in March 2023.

"It was a long process—really long," he said with a chuckle about his recovery. "But looking back, it went a lot faster than I expected. When they told me I’d need 18 more months of recovery after my third surgery, it sounded daunting, but now it's all behind me."

Earlier on game day, Ball expressed his excitement, stating he was "full of joy" as he prepared to play again. However, he also recognized he wouldn't be the same player he was before his injuries.

"It's not the same body I started with," he admitted. "But I believe I can still be productive and effective on the court. That’s why I’m still trying to play."

Ball made his presence felt each time he stepped on the court. He opened with a corner three-pointer, signaling to the crowd as he ran up the court. He also showcased his defensive skills, stealing the ball from Julius Randle and diving into the Bulls' bench to save it from going out of bounds.

In his debut season with the Bulls in 2021-22, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists over 35 games. In his first game back, he contributed a well-rounded performance, including one block, one steal, one assist, and one rebound.

"I thought he looked great," said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "There are so many things he does in the game that don’t rely on his knee or body; he uses his brain so much. He moved really well."

Crucially, Ball was able to focus on his game without thinking about his knee. "That's a positive," he said. "I didn’t feel it at all. I felt like I was moving great. Now it's just about building and continuing to do this night after night."

Donovan noted that the Bulls would keep an eye on Ball's knee to assess how it responded to his first game back and expected him to have a lighter practice on Thursday. Ball also indicated his intention to play in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

"I think he's going to need to play," Donovan remarked. "That's just the normal NBA rhythm, playing every other day."

Throughout his recovery, Ball, who will turn 27 later this month, maintained confidence in his return. He sought opinions from multiple knee specialists until he found a viable path to recovery.

"I think it's about believing in myself—knowing how I felt and that I was at a good age to come back," Ball said. "I just trusted the doctors and everyone around me."

By August, he was cleared for 5-on-5 scrimmages and arrived at the Bulls’ facility weeks ahead of training camp to start working out with the team. Although he hoped to make his preseason debut earlier, he was delayed a few days due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Ball has experienced some soreness during the preseason, which he noted is to be expected. He emphasized the importance of managing his workload and playing time throughout the season.

"We have a good handle on it right now, but I think it will change as the year goes on," Ball said. "Every day will present different challenges that we have to navigate."

PHILADELPHIA — In a concerning moment during Wednesday's preseason victory over the Brooklyn Nets, 76ers first-round pick Jared McCain was taken to a hospital for evaluation after suffering a hard fall late in the game. The team reported that he was being assessed for a concussion after appearing to struggle to catch his breath on the court.

"It was rough," said 76ers coach Nick Nurse. "He's going to the hospital to get checked out. He was having trouble breathing, maybe got the wind knocked out of him, but it was unusual, so let’s hope he’s okay."

In 23 minutes of play, McCain scored 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The incident occurred in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter when he drove to the basket, collided with a Nets defender, and fell hard, hitting his head and back on the floor at Wells Fargo Center.

He remained down for several minutes, coughing and struggling to breathe before eventually being helped off the court.

The 76ers confirmed that their medical staff was evaluating McCain for a concussion and that he would not be available for post-game interviews.

The 20-year-old was the 16th overall pick in June's NBA draft out of Duke and has averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across five preseason games.