Ball makes a comeback after almost three years on the sidelines due to injury.

NBA star Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return after nearly three years of recovery from multiple knee surgeries. 

In the Chicago Bulls' 125-123 pre-season win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, the point guard scored 10 points in 15 minutes. Ball, 26, also contributed an assist, a steal, and a block in his first game since January 14, 2022.

"It felt much better to be playing than just watching," Ball said, despite being limited to 16 minutes on the court. "I can't really express how I felt out there."

Ball underwent a cartilage and meniscus transplant in his left knee in March 2023, marking his third knee surgery in just over a year. He also had a bone allograft, where a replacement bone is sourced from a donor.

On his podcast, "What an Experience," Ball shared that his knee issues began with a meniscus tear in 2018 while he was with the Los Angeles Lakers.