MINNEAPOLIS — Lonzo Ball isn’t going anywhere.
The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a two-year, $20 million extension with the point guard, a league source confirmed late Wednesday. ESPN was first to report the deal.
The decision to stay in Chicago comes amid a comeback season for Ball, who did not play a single game for 33 months after suffering a confounding left knee injury that required three procedures before his successful return in October. Ball is the first NBA player to ever successfully return to the league following a knee cartilage transplant.
Ball, 27, quickly regained his confidence as a savvy on-ball creator who can disrupt opponents on both ends of the court. He is averaging 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30 games this season after having his playing-time restriction relaxed to 28 minutes per game. Ball leads the Bulls in steals per game despite playing fewer minutes than six other players on the roster.
Ball did not play Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has not played in back-to-back games this season as part of the team’s recovery plan for his knee injury.
Although Ball emerged as a potential trade asset for the Bulls ahead of Thursday’s deadline, some potential suitors remained uncertain about his long-term viability as a contributor due to the duration of his knee injury. This extension is a pay cut for Ball, whose four-year, $80 million deal — which was originally signed with the New Orleans Pelicans — was set to expire at the end of this season.
Injuries will always be a concern with Ball, who never has played more than 55 games in a season over his eight years in the NBA due to a series of ankle and knee injuries. But when Ball is healthy, he remains one of the most dynamic guards in the league — a trait that only will grow stronger if and when he’s cleared for a full workload.
Ball is set to become a crucial veteran piece for a rebuild process by the Bulls, who made their first deadline trade in three years Sunday to send longtime star Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings.
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