CHICAGO - In a quiet hallway inside the Thomas and Mack Center, not far from the spot I used to park and wait for Kai Sotto to emerge during his 2023 NBA Summer League stint, I had the good fortune to interview Lonzo Ball for the first time.
It was another one of those blistering hot July in Las Vegas where I went to cover many of the fresh talents that were about to enter the league.
Picked second overall in the 2017 NBA draft, just behind No. 1 prospect Markelle Fulz and slightly ahead of Jason Tatum (No. 3) and D'Aaron Fox (No. 5), Ball was at the crest of his and his brothers' popularity as high school stars from the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills.
Given the spotlight that had already been focused on him for years before arriving in the NBA, Ball was surprisingly shy. But he was wonderful to talk to and easy to like.
After a breakout 2020-21 season where he averaged a career best 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the New Orleans Pelicans, the 6-foot-6, 190-pound point guard was shipped to Chicago in a sign-and-trade deal last August 2021.
Unfortunately, this city which is famished for a star and still reeling from the trauma of hometown hero Derrick Rose's torn ACL years before, was robbed of another promise.
LONG ROAD BACK.
In January of 2022, Ball injured his meniscus and underwent arthroscopic surgery. But what was thought to be routine turned out to be complex and devastating as Ball went under the knife two more times followed by 18 months of rehab and recovery.
All told, the UCLA alum missed a total of 211 games across two-and-a-half years. Thanks to a guaranteed four-year $80 million contract, Ball was still paid approximately $231,707 in each of the 211 games he missed.
In a cruel twist of fate, Lonzo Ball, the next big Bulls star appeared to, God forbid, follow the footsteps of Derrick Rose's injury history.
As the absences piled up and rumors of the Bulls cutting the cord, Ball soldiered on.
Last night, after what seemed like an interminable wait, Ball finally returned for his first regular season game since 2022.
NICE AND EASY DOES IT.
Still under a 16-minute restriction, the 26-year old logged 14 minutes and finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. The Bulls fell to the Pelicans, 123-111, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
But the mere sight of Ball on the court was a huge W for both the player and the Bulls franchise. It was a triumph of the human spirit and a testament to the patience and perseverance of a champion organization which never let go of the rope in a most trying time.
The Bulls host the Oklahoma City Thunder this Saturday at the United Center. And knowing how rabid this city's fans are after having a seat in the Bulls press box since 2002, it's hard not to imagine a roaring ovation.
Let's go Lonzo, let's get ready to rum-Ball!!
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