Bulls' Lonzo Ball finally takes positive steps in wrist injury rehab

Lonzo Ball injury updates usually end with a sigh and a thud.

That’s why Saturday was a bit surprising.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan revealed that not only did Ball have his best rehab session earlier in the day, but could start going through contact at some point next week as he continues his return from a right wrist injury.

“(Saturday) was probably the best day he had in terms of shooting the basketball,” Donovan said. “I think that was probably the point, whatever it was, a week or 10 days ago, we got him doing that where he was having some discomfort shooting. And (Saturday) he actually felt pretty good doing that, so there’s been significant progress over the last 10 days, but until he can get into some contact, using his hands, passing, catching, those kinds of things … we can at least keep moving forward.”

Ball, who missed two-and-a-half seasons after having three separate surgeries on his left knee, began this season coming off the bench and on strict minutes restrictions. He fell on the wrist in his third game played, however, and was out since.

If he does start going through contact over the next week, he could be looking at an early December return.

Either way, what’s really impressed Donovan has been Ball’s attitude. He’s not only trying to show the Bulls, and really the entire NBA, that he can be a key rotation piece moving forward, but he’s doing so on an expiring contract.

Rather than having anxiety or concern with his situation, Ball has remained realistic about his current standing.

“The thing with him is he handles everything in stride,” Donovan said. “Even the constant setbacks with his knee, it’s like he never changed. It was like, ‘OK, it is what it is, I can’t change it, this is how I have to attack this going forward.’ I think he took the same approach with his wrist. He’s not ever come across to me as stressed out or, ‘I got to get back, I got to show …’ I give him a lot of credit for even wrapping his head around that.”

Donovan did warn, however, that when Ball is able to return, he will start from scratch on his minutes restriction, which means back to 15-16 minutes per game.

Back-to-backs will remain out of the question, but the hope is to try and get Ball up to that 22–24-minute threshold at some point.

Dunk that!

Rookie Matas Buzelis continued to get extended playing time with Patrick Williams (left foot) sidelined and continued to show an aggressiveness in wanting to attack the rim.

The next step of his progression, however, is to learn that everything doesn’t need to be a highlight dunk. That was on display in the win over Atlanta, when Buzelis reached back for a one-handed slam in the third quarter, but the ball was deflected out of his hand.

“I think as he gets a little older he’s going to realize, ‘Three points is better than two, or possibly one.’ “ Donovan said, referring to the idea that he could have scored the basket and drawn the foul if he would have kept two hands on the ball. “Those are learning points for him.”

Yes and no. He’s learning, but Buzelis also admitted that it’s in his nature to attack the rim.

“I’m 6-10, athletic, so I’m going to use that to my advantage,” Buzelis said. “I’m always thinking attack the rim with aggression.”

Bugging out

Second-year wing Julian Phillips missed the Memphis game with a bug that’s been going around the team for the past few weeks.