CHICAGO (AP) — When the time finally came after multiple knee surgeries and grueling rehab, Lonzo Ball raised his right arm and blew a kiss to the cheering crowd.

The fans stood as the announcement echoed through the arena: “We’re reporting for the Chicago Bulls!” No. 2! Lonzo ball!”

It was a moment that lasted almost three years.

Ball made his long-awaited return, scoring 10 points in 15 minutes in the Bulls’ 125-123 preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The point guard also had an assist, a steal and a block in his first appearance since January 14, 2022.

“It felt a lot better playing than watching, that’s all I can say,” he said. “I can’t really put into words how I felt out there.”

Ball, who turns 27 on Oct. 27, underwent a cartilage and meniscus transplant in his left knee last year after multiple procedures failed to heal his injury. He found he was “moving great” and the knee was causing him “no problems at all.”

Ball received a rousing ovation when he came on for Josh Giddey after a timeout midway through the first quarter. It didn’t take long for Ball to make an impact. With 5:25 minutes left in the period, he scored an open three-pointer from the left corner after a drive from the driving Nikola Vucevic, which drew another big cheer from the crowd.

“Just blessed, man,” Ball said. “There were a lot of people that helped me get here, not just myself. Just to see the crowd and all the love that the city gives me, man, that cannot be imitated in any way. And it’s real.”

Several players expressed their support and respect for Ball in their team’s post-match meeting. Coby White presented the game ball and LaVine presented Ball with a jersey that appeared to be signed by the team.

The Bulls must play Cleveland again on Friday before opening the season on October 23rd in New Orleans. Ball said he would “for sure” play against the Cavaliers. He will begin the season on a minutes restriction and will not play games on consecutive days.

The Bulls had possession within 16 minutes against Minnesota. They planned for him to get two stints of about four minutes each half. But after playing nearly six minutes in the third quarter, he sat there the rest of the game.

“I just give him a lot of credit,” coach Billy Donovan said. “It was probably a lot being out there for two and a half years. You play your first game. I know it’s not the regular season yet, but I know he’s put in a lot of work to prepare for this moment.”

The Bulls are still trying to figure out how much activity causes pain for Ball, let alone how the knee responds to playing in a game. Chicago also has plenty to offer in the backfield, with Coby White having a breakout season and Giddey joining the team after a trade from Oklahoma City.

Ball’s tenure in Chicago got off to a good start after he agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans ahead of the 2021-22 season. He averaged 13 points and 5.1 assists and shot 42.3% on 3-pointers in 35 games before being derailed.

The Bulls initially assumed Ball had a minor meniscus injury. However, it turned out to be much more serious.

Ball had a cartilage transplant in March 2023, his third knee surgery in just over a year. Last May, he revealed on his podcast that the operation was more extensive.

Ball said he received a new meniscus for the cartilage transplant. He also underwent a bone transplant, in which the replacement bone comes from another person. Ball said the problems stemmed from a torn meniscus in 2018 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now – finally – he’s playing again. Did he ever doubt that this day would come?

“Not really, to be honest,” he said. “I had the goal of getting back on the pitch. I know it was a long road, a long process, but it was worth it because I was looking forward to it.” . I’m just happy that I can finally go out and do what I love to do.”

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