Lonzo Ball scooped a loose ball at the top of the 3-point line following a Boston Celtics turnover and orchestrated a fast break going the other way. He pounded two dribbles across halfcourt before dishing a pass to his Chicago Bulls teammate, Ayo Dosunmu, on the left wing.
Together, they manufactured a textbook two-on-one. Ball gave the ball up, and he never stopped sprinting to the basket, fully expecting to get it back. Everything about the moment, including the subtle way Ball called for the return pass, told all about the progress he has made in his comeback season.
As he locked eyes with Dosunmu, Ball gathered his steps. Ball then quickly raised his right arm, pointing one finger to the sky, looking for Dosunmu to throw an alley-oop. Celtics star Jayson Tatum, the lone defender between Ball and the basket, had good position to break up the potential highlight. So with 2:45 remaining and the Bulls trailing by three, Dosunmu decided against a high-risk pass. He instead kicked out to Zach LaVine on the right wing.
Ball, after collecting his steps, skipped away along the baseline, discontented at the dunk he didn’t get to throw down.
Ball, however, wasn’t even supposed to be in the game. Appearing in only his fifth contest last Friday after 2 1/2 seasons away following multiple surgeries on his left knee, Ball was supposed to be on a 16-minute restriction for the foreseeable future, but he logged a season-high 22 minutes in the Bulls’ home loss to the Celtics.
For the first time this season, Ball remained on the floor in the closing minutes of a crunch-time game.
“I kind of just vetoed the minute restriction,” Ball said, jokingly. “There was three minutes left. We were right there, so I just wanted to try to do what I can to get the win.
“I felt fine. I didn’t feel like I was injured in any type of way, so I just told (Bulls coach) Billy (Donovan), ‘Let me rock out.’ He was a little hesitant; he’ll probably hear about it a little. But I’m glad he left me in there.”
Zo is making plays on both ends! 👀@CHSN__ | @ZO2_ pic.twitter.com/jrtIkuMAzD
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 30, 2024
Through the first quarter of the season, it’s becoming increasingly apparent how much better the Bulls are with Ball playing. Few anticipated Ball bouncing back from a career-threatening knee injury. Even fewer had him reclaiming his place as the Bulls’ most impactful performer.
But that’s what Ball has achieved in his first five contests.
“I know it’s only a very small sample size, but if you look at his plus-minus on the floor, it’s crazy for the amount of time he’s gotten,” Donovan said.
On a team that is five games under .500 and ranks 25th in plus-minus at minus-5.8, Ball is the rare bright spot. He leads the team with a plus-minus of plus-2.8 per game. He’s averaged only 16.7 minutes, but his restriction is now being raised to 18 minutes.
“He’s so smart and knows how to play the game that I think he feels whether it’s 16 or 20 or 22 minutes, he can be a productive player,” Donovan said. “The biggest thing for me with him going forward is going to be how he can hold up physically with his knee.”
Ball hasn’t reported any issues with the knee, although he continues to require routine maintenance after games and on off days. He’ll also continue being held out of one game on back-to-back sets.
With everything going well, though, Ball is getting his wish — more playing time.
“I felt fine out there. No problems,” Ball said of his extended minutes against the Celtics. “I expect the minutes to keep going up and up and stay on the right trajectory.”
Ball sustained a right wrist injury in the team’s fourth game, which sidelined him for 15 consecutive contests. He returned the night before Thanksgiving and didn’t miss a beat in reintroducing himself as a two-way force. Ball recorded four steals and two blocked shots to go with his two made 3s in only 15 minutes against the Orlando Magic. In a 14-point Bulls loss, Ball was a plus-7.
Bulls running the break!@CHSN__ | @AyoDos_11 pic.twitter.com/W8puLyyQW5
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 28, 2024
“It’s amazing to me,” Donovan said. “He has a way of getting himself mentally to a place where he knows exactly what he’s got to do.”
Ball makes the game sound as easy as he makes it look. He downplayed the immediacy of his impact. He’d much rather the credit go to his teammates and his hard work.
“To be honest, basketball’s pretty simple from my point of view,” Ball said. “We’ve got some great players on this team. So I just come in there and try to give good minutes. Be in the right spots, play good defense and let the chips fall where they may.”
Ball is making his impact as a conductor and floor-spacer in the second unit and, now, another weapon in closing lineups. He’s helped to accelerate the Bulls’ league-leading pace, as expected, with quick-hitting strikes in transition like the possession against the Celtics. He’s also been a safety net on a team that ranks in the bottom third in turnovers. Ball has committed only five in 84 minutes.
But watch Ball defensively if you really want to see him shine. At that end, he’s nothing short of a savant. The Bulls are tied for 29th in defensive rating, but Chicago plays like a more connected unit when Ball is on the court. He shifts and swarms, talks and stalks, and might be all that keeps the Bulls from a bottom three defense this season.
When Ball shut down a post-up attempt by Celtics star Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP, with a timely strip, Ball turned to the crowd and woofed. It looked like he was reminding the United Center crowd what he does best.
“He knows his game. He knows everything that he’s good at,” Bulls guard Coby White said. “So I feel like he just goes out there and plays. With his mentality, it’s more so like he doesn’t worry about how much time he missed. He just goes out there and hoops regardless of anything.”
(Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
