Sources: Bulls' Lonzo Ball expected to make return vs. Timberwolves

After missing two straight NBA seasons, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to make his return to basketball in Wednesday night's preseason home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN.

Ball, 26, last played in a game for Chicago on Jan. 14, 2022. Multiple procedures on his left knee since then include a rare double cartilage transplant.

A team official confirmed that the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA draft is on track to debut on Wednesday. This signifies a major comeback to basketball for Ball, who underwent the cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023.

Ball said last week on his "What An Experience" podcast that he hoped to play near the end of preseason.

The Bulls had a 27-13 record up until the last date Ball played a game, the best record in the Eastern Conference at the time.He had the best shooting season of his career in 2021-22, averaging career-highs in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.

Acquired in a trade with New Orleans prior to the 2021-22 season, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 35 starts before being shut down.

He has career averages of 11.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 252 games (239 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19), Pelicans (2019-21) and Bulls.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.