Lonzo: I don't have the same body I started with

As Lonzo Ball prepares to suit up for his first NBA game since January 2022, the Chicago Bulls guard doesn't expect to be the same player he was prior to his knee injury.

"It's not the same body I started off with," Ball said after Wednesday's shootaround, according to ESPN's Jamal Collier. "But I think I can still be productive and effective on the court. That's why I'm still trying to play."

The 26-year-old missed the last two campaigns while recovering from a series of procedures on his left knee. Ball has made just 35 appearances for the Bulls since they acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal.

The former No. 2 overall pick impressed during his brief time on the court for Chicago, averaging 13 points, 5.4 boards, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals during the 2021-22 campaign. He was shooting a career-best 42.3% from beyond the arc before being sidelined.

Chicago was 22-13 with Ball in the lineup and had the East's best record at the time of his season-ending injury. He formed a strong defensive backcourt tandem with Alex Caruso. The Bulls were allowing 8.1 fewer points per 100 possession with Ball on the floor.

Ball's responsibilities will be limited in the early stages of his comeback, as he'll play no more than 16 minutes in Wednesday's preseason affair versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Collier.

Chicago finished 39-43 last season and was eliminated in the play-in tournament by the Miami Heat. The Bulls are projected to start Josh Giddey at point guard to begin the campaign, having acquired him by trading Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder.