The NBA He is a specialist in generating narratives around his stars, writing stories of improvement full of epic that engage viewers beyond their spectacular matches. And the 2024-25 season, which will begin next Tuesday, already has its first protagonist. Lonzo Ballpoint guard for the Chicago Bulls, returned to wear the legendary white and red of the Illinois franchise after more than a thousand days out.
The one who was a child prodigy and media phenomenon since he was active in the University of California (UCLA)he shattered his left knee on January 14, 2022, including a torn meniscus, and had to undergo three operations on his damn joint, which meant that he could not wear shorts for two years, nine months and two days. A nightmare that, finally, managed to end in the early hours of Thursday.
In the friendly duel against the Minnesota TimberwolvesBall jumped onto the court in the final minutes of the first quarter, made a slight cut and, already in the corner, received the released ball to score a three-pointer. Their celebration was light, but the United Center, the one that went crazy with Michael Jordan In the 1990s, he collapsed after confirmation that one of his idols was back.
Although the visitors took the victory (123-125), the point guard went to the ten points in just 15 minutes on the hardwood and thrilled his comrades. «I have felt much better playing than watching from the bench. I can’t even put into words how I felt when I stepped out onto the track. It is definitely a moment that I will never forget,” said the player at a press conference.
After the duel, already in the locker room, Coby Whiteone of the captains, gave an emotional speech, gave the game ball to Ball and a jersey signed by the entire Bulls team. «It is a blessing to have been part of this journey. Many of us have been in that situation, with all its ups and downs. It’s been a crazy night for Lonzo. “This ball is for you, brother,” White said before the locker room broke into emotional applause.
The celebration may seem exaggerated, but ball He has been through hell in recent years and even considered withdrawing. After his serious injury in 2022, he had to undergo surgery twice. However, the knee was not recovering as expected and, 18 months ago, an experimental treatment was chosen from which no professional athlete had recovered, but which gave Ball a small chance of resuming his career. The surgery removed the meniscus and a significant amount of cartilage and a modern graft was implanted (osteochondral allograft).
The forecasts were not good but Lonzo professed monumental faith. “This is something that no one has really recovered from, so I’ll be the first,” he said a few months ago. Now, the NBA celebrates the return of the first hero of the 2024-25 season.
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