Why is Lonzo Ball on a minutes restriction? Latest on Bulls' plan for the guard's safe return after 2.5 years

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is set to make his preseason debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. After not playing for two and a half years, Ball is keen to set foot on the court again, hoping to leave his knee issues in the past.

Speaking to the media at shootaround on Wednesday, the former LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans playmaker explained that he and the team will manage his time on the court. He will be under a 16-minute restriction on Wednesday.

The minutes restriction is to ensure that his return to the court is well managed and not rushed. It is also to ensure that Ball doesn't re-aggravate the injuries as his physical fitness might not be ready yet to endure 48 minutes of basketball. As per the guard, the minutes restriction is likely to stay for the entire season.

"We'll have to manage it all year. That's just the reality of it," Ball said. "COVID definitely set me back. It's more about just getting my weight up. I lost like 10 pounds so back to normal now, I feel a lot better so I'll be ready to play tonight."

The last time he played for the six-time NBA champions was on Jan. 14, 2022, in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. He scored 15 points, grabbed two rebounds and dished three assists while shooting 41.7% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range.

After being traded to the Bulls from the Pelicans in 2021, Lonzo Ball has only played 35 games for Chicago so far. He showed promising signs in that short span, forming a trio with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. In those 35 games, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, shooting 42.3% from the field and 42.3% from deep.

What happened to Lonzo Ball?

Lonzo Ball dealt with knee issues since the time he was still with the LA Lakers. His issues continued in New Orleans and Chicago, until the latter shut him down and tried to get him ready for a return that was over two years in the making.

He received a new meniscus when he underwent a cartilage transplant in his left knee last year. He also underwent a bone allograft, which means the replacement bone comes from a donor.

The wait seems to over for the eldest Ball brother, and hopefully, the knee issues are past him. The Bulls host the Timberwolves at United Center at 8 p.m. EDT.