Is Lonzo Ball playing tonight against Memphis Grizzlies? Exploring Bulls guard’s status for preseason game (Oct. 12)

One of the most anticipated storylines in this NBA season is the comeback of Lonzo Ball, who hasn’t played since Jan. 14, 2022. Knee problems have kept the Chicago Bulls guard sidelined for the past few years, but he is slated to return this season.

Ball, who began participating in full 5-on-5 scrimmages in August, announced that he will start ramping up his activity during the preseason. However, he will remain out for Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Bulls have five preseason games lined up, and Ball confirmed he would sit out the first two. They won their preseason opener against the Cavaliers, 116-112.

The upcoming game against the Grizzlies will be Chicago's second preseason match. On "The WAE Show" on Friday, Lonzo Ball mentioned he plans to play in two of the team’s last three preseason games.

"I'm sitting the first two preseason games. Expecting to play the last two, maybe two of the last three, one of those in there, but everything is going along feeling good," Ball said. "Knee's feeling good. Just looking forward to the future really."

After the Grizzlies, the Bulls' preseason schedule includes games against the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Cavaliers, all within a five-day stretch starting Monday.

Ball initially tore his meniscus, which caused him to miss part of the 2021-22 season, and later underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure to clear debris from the previous surgery. In March 2023, he had a third surgery in two years — a cartilage transplant to replace his meniscus.

"It's getting better every day, honestly just being out there getting comfortable again on the court, moving around, trusting the movements, all the work that I put in and just seeing it come to life," Ball said.

COVID, not knee injury, behind Lonzo Ball missing preseason games

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan revealed that Lonzo Ball’s absence from the preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers wasn’t due to his knee injury. Donovan explained that Ball was recovering from COVID and was still working on regaining his conditioning.

"I think in talking to medical and even my conversations with him, I think there's still a period of him getting his strength back," Donovan said. "Probably lost out on working out for more than a week [with COVID]. Lost some weight, lost some strength. We're going to be cautious with the buildup."

Lonzo Ball is expected to come off the bench as he makes his return. This offseason, the Bulls acquired young guard Josh Giddey from the OKC Thunder in exchange for Alex Caruso.