‘This is a Hail Mary’: Inside Lonzo Ball’s Unprecedented 1,000-Day Return to the NBA
THE OPERATIONS TEAM at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is no stranger to snowstorms. With over 250 pieces of snow removal equipment, they’re experts at keeping the runways clear and planes flying, no matter the conditions. But on Feb. 16, 2023, as a storm blanketed the city with snow and wind gusts reached 20 mph, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball found himself stuck in the chaos. He was trying to catch a flight to Salt Lake City for a nerve-block procedure to ease the relentless pain in his knee. Instead, he ended up on a journey that would change everything.
Ball arrived at O’Hare early, knowing he needed extra time to navigate the airport. Every step—stairs, escalators, security checkpoints—was a challenge. His knee, which had been a source of agony for over a year, made even the simplest tasks excruciating. The flight was scheduled to leave at 7:35 p.m., but mechanical issues delayed the plane. Hours passed. Ball lay on the cold, carpeted floor of the terminal, headphones in, trying to stay calm. If his grueling rehab had taught him anything, it was patience.
Eventually, passengers reboarded the plane, only to deplane again when it was deemed unsafe to take off. By 9 a.m. the next morning, the flight finally departed—but Ball wasn’t on it. Instead, he rerouted to Los Angeles, abandoning the nerve-block procedure in Utah. “Looking back at it,” Ball told ESPN, “it was a blessing I didn’t do it.”
A New Goal: Walking, Not Playing
At that point, Ball’s focus shifted. Basketball was no longer the priority. He just wanted to walk his dog and play with his daughter without pain. After more than a year of failed rehab, two surgeries, and countless injections, his knee was worse than ever. An MRI revealed that the damage had progressed since the initial injury. What was supposed to be a 60-day recovery had stretched into 400 days, with no end in sight.
“I had literally had a surgery where they just cut my leg open to see what was going on. Just a search and rescue,” Ball said, referring to a September 2022 procedure. “Once that happened, I was like, ‘I’m not doing this anymore. I need to set a goal … [get everyone] on the call and come up with a plan.’”
That plan would involve a third surgery—one no NBA player had ever attempted. It was a “Hail Mary,” as described by Dr. Brian J. Cole, Ball’s orthopedic surgeon. The procedure would replace the cartilage in Ball’s knee with cartilage from a cadaver. The risks were enormous: tissue rejection, graft failure, and the possibility that Ball might never play basketball again. But it was his only option.
The Injury That Changed Everything
Ball’s nightmare began on Jan. 12, 2022, during a game against the Golden State Warriors. While playing defense, he felt his knee jam. It seemed minor at the time—just another bump in the grind of an NBA season. But after jamming it again later in the game, the pain became impossible to ignore. Diagnosed with a bone bruise and a small meniscus tear, Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery with an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks.
Six weeks later, the Bulls released a video of Ball lifting weights and running. “Feeling pretty good,” he said in the clip. But the optimism was short-lived. Pain returned, radiating through his knee. Running, jumping, even basic movements became unbearable. By April, the Bulls ruled him out for the rest of the season.
“At first, I’m thinking four to six weeks, be back for the playoffs,” Ball said. “When that didn’t happen, we started trying all these shots, stuff like that, trying to kill my nerves. I was like, ‘This s— just don’t feel right.’”
A Long Road Back
Over the next year, Ball saw five knee specialists and tried every treatment imaginable. Nothing worked. By February 2023, the cartilage in his knee was separating from the bone. The Bulls ruled him out for the 2022-23 season, and Ball began considering the unthinkable: life without basketball.
But Ball wasn’t ready to give up. In March 2023, he underwent the groundbreaking cartilage replacement surgery. The recovery would take 18 months, and success was far from guaranteed. “I wish I didn’t have to, but it was the only option left,” Ball said. “I think a lot of people wrote me off because it was an unknown surgery.”
The Comeback
For months, Ball’s life revolved around rehab. He used a continuous passive motion machine to move his knee and worked tirelessly with his trainers. Progress was slow but steady. By December 2023, he was cleared to run. By October 2024, he was back on the court.
On Oct. 16, 2024, Ball played his first game in 1,009 days. The United Center erupted as he checked in. He hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter, sending the crowd into a frenzy. After the game, teammate Zach LaVine presented him with the game ball and a signed jersey. “I respect you more than anything because of what you’ve been through,” LaVine said. “We love you, we care about you. Glad to see you back.”
What’s Next?
Ball’s return is nothing short of miraculous. This season, he’s averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 assists in just over 16 minutes per game. While his journey is far from over, one thing is clear: Lonzo Ball’s love for the game—and his determination—has never wavered.
- Ball’s injury journey began in January 2022.
- He underwent three surgeries, including a groundbreaking cartilage replacement.
- After 1,009 days, he returned to the court in October 2024.
“I’ve loved [basketball] my whole life,” Ball said. And now, after everything, he’s finally back where he belongs.
Originally Written by: Ramona Shelburne
