Lonzo Ball was the glue that held the Chicago Bulls together before he suffered a season-ending injury. He was pushing the team to new heights when in action, but his absence was a major reason for the Bulls’ late-season struggles.
Coming to Chicago after two seasons with the Pelicans, Ball was everything the Bulls could have asked for and more on the court. Aside from being a fantastic defender and making everyone around him a better player, Ball himself had a great offensive year.
Before going down with a torn meniscus in January, Ball was averaging 13.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 5.1 APG. The guard was one of the team’s most consistent shooters, posting career-highs in field goal percentage (42.3%) and three-point percentage (42.3).
Ball helped the Bulls attain the top spot in the Eastern Conference, as they were two games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets at the time of his injury. But after he went on the shelf, the team fella apart. After January 14, the Bulls went 19-23 without Ball. They ended the season with the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
There are a lot of “what if’s” when it comes to Ball’s absence and how successful the 2021-22 Chicago Bulls could have been. But one thing is certain: when Lonzo Ball plays, his impact is unmatched. The Bulls are a more well-rounded team and a tougher squad to beat with their point guard on the court.
Grade: A
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