Lonzo Ball is back.

Having gone through three separate knee surgeries since his initial injury on January 14, 2022, Ball is set to return to the court for the Chicago Bulls tonight in their preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He will be on a 16-minute restriction.

“Just happy, man,” Ball told reporters on Wednesday morning. “Full of joy. Happy to be back, put the uniform on, go out there in front of the United Center fans. I missed them a lot. I missed my team a lot. So just to be out there and be available, that means the world to me.”

No real nerves to return, just happiness.

Though this is one of the feel-good stories of the NBA the last few years, both Ball and the Bulls know they’ll need to continue to exercise caution.

“Really depends on the day,” Ball responded when asked how his knee feels on a day-to-day basis going through normal activities. “Every day is different. It’s always gonna be something there. That’s just the reality of it. I just gotta take care of myself, my body the best way I can, and just be ready to play each and every game.”

Ball and the Bulls have noted that they are playing the long game. This isn’t just about getting back on the court for one game, or even one year. Both parties want to make sure Ball can carve out a role for himself longer term, assuming he can find the right process.

“We have a good handle right now, but I think it’s going to change throughout the year,” he said. “Every day is going to be a different challenge that we just have to overcome.”

As the Bulls transitioned to a new organizational direction, Ball expressed gratitude that the team never gave up on him.

“I got nothing but love and respect for (the Bulls organization),” he said. “They could have just pushed me to the side and kept moving; instead, they’ve been with me the whole way and given me the best treatment, the best help I can get. So like I said, all the hard work, it wasn’t just for me, it was from a collective unit, and it all paid off to have me back on the court today.”

As for the recovery itself, Ball is attempting to be the first NBA player to return from a cartilage transplant. After two meniscus procedures failed to address the persisting soreness and discomfort he was experiencing, he elected for this somewhat experimental procedure.

That recovery process — the first surgery, rehab and attempted recovery, the second surgery, rehab and attempted recovery, and finally the third — it would have been easy to admit defeat and call it a career. He even dealt with a bout of COVID ahead of training camp where he lost 10 pounds, pushing his return to today.

“Long,” Ball admitted when asked about the last 2.5 years. “Really long. But looking back on it, it went by a lot faster than I thought. Getting the first surgery and then coming back, and then having the second and third, and telling me 18 more months recovery. You know that sounds crazy in the moment, but now I’m here, and it’s all behind me now.”

Ball’s optimism, self-belief, and determination to return from such a daunting and defeating series of procedures is an inspiration.

“I think it’s the belief in myself, knowing what I was feeling, knowing that I was a good age to come back from it, and I’m just trusting in the doctors and people around me, and ultimately got back on the court,” Ball said.

Prior to the injury, Ball was having a career year with the Bulls, who were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2022 All-Star Break. His uncanny IQ, defensive instincts, passing, three-point shooting, and flair made him one of the most exciting and effective young guards in the league.

With a “brand-new knee,” he knows he may not be the same.

“It’s just definitely gonna be different. It’s not the same body I started off with,” he said. “But I think I can still be productive and effective on the court. That’s why I’m still trying to play. So for me, it’s just going out there and doing what I can to help the team just play winning basketball at the end of the day. Like I said, I know what I’m capable of. I feel comfortable out there. Other than that, I just gotta hoop.”

Still, he’s trying not to be too in his own head about it.

“I’m just going to go out there and play freely,” he added. “I’m not thinking about it too much. I’m cleared to play, so I’m gonna play.”