The former UCLA star was faring well in 35 games during the 2021-22 season before being forced to the sidelines, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for a Bulls team that was first in the Eastern Conference when he made his final appearance on Jan. 14, 2022.

The 2021-22 Bulls team looked loaded on paper, with a strong quartet of Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević leading the way. And that success materialized in the first half of the year.

But the Bulls could not recover after Ball was lost for the year, having a losing second half and finishing with a 46-36 record, only good enough for sixth in the East. Chicago then fell in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.

Without Ball, Chicago had losing records each of the last two years, falling in the play-in tournament.

Prospects aren’t particularly high this year, especially with DeRozan leaving in free agency for the Sacramento Kings. But Ball’s comeback story certainly provides a beacon of light for a downtrodden team that’s fallen on hard times. He’ll assuredly be making his comeback soon enough after a long and arduous journey.

Although Ball won’t be making his preseason debut against the Cavs Tuesday, he’ll have a four more chances to get back on the court before the regular season begins on Oct. 23 at the New Orleans Pelicans. Up next would be a home matchup Saturday at home versus the Memphis Grizzlies.