To say the past three years have been tough for Lonzo Ball would be the understatement of the century.
Before making an improbable comeback this season, Ball’s last game with the Chicago Bulls was on Jan. 14, 2022.
His last dunk? Around that same time.
Ball was ruled out from Chicago’s next game with knee soreness, but there wasn’t much cause for concern then. What was supposed to be one game, however, turned into one week and one month before he eventually went on to miss the rest of the 2021-22 season, as well as the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
By Feb. 2023, Ball underwent two knee surgeries and was still searching for answers when it was revealed he was suffering from a cartilage deterioration issue. Ball opted for a rare cartilage transplant surgery that had never been tried on any NBA player; it came with an 18-month recovery time and offered no guarantees of a comeback.
And while he’s made that comeback, Stephen A. Smith was right. Ball’s road back hasn’t been without limitations, and questions about his long-term effectiveness remain valid.
But even so, Ball didn’t let those challenges stop him from creating a moment that felt like everything was right in the world.
In a 125-107 loss to the Washington Wizards on New Year’s Day, nothing particularly went well for the Chicago Bulls. Depending on who you ask, there are no moral victories in sports, not when you lose by 18 points to a team with a .194 winning percentage. But there has to be some solace in a player who’s NBA career seemed to be over dunking for the first time in three years.
And Adam Amin and Stacey King made sure there was at least some.
Zo’s first dunk in 3 years ‼️@CHSN__ | @ZO2_ pic.twitter.com/YvcBASBSUI
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 2, 2025
“What a smart play by Lonzo BALL,” said the Bulls play-by-play voice for the Chicago Sports Network. “And he’s gonna dunk it on home!!!!… COME ON!”
“Tell me the knees ain’t right; tell me the knees ain’t ready,” said King.
“That’s about as healthy as you could possibly look if you’re Lonzo Ball coming off surgery after surgery after surgery — and making this comeback this year,” added Amin.
“I know that doesn’t mean a lot to anybody, but from where he’s come from — two years of missing basketball…” said King.
It was his first dunk in almost three years. How about that?
Good on Amin and King for framing the moment with the significance it deserved. For Lonzo Ball, it was more than two points on the scoreboard.
After all the pain, doubt and surgeries — he’s still here.
