Since being drafted second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Lonzo Ball has suffered bad luck with injuries. In his first four seasons with the LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, Ball never played more than 63 games, and things have only gotten worse since then.

In four seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Ball has played 35 games, 0 games, 0 games and 9 (and counting) games, respectively. Missing two years in a row is certainly a toll on a player, but Ball has recovered from injury and returned to the field this season with something to prove.

Ball contributed 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench in Friday’s home win against the Charlotte Hornets. The highlight of the evening was an elegant alley-oop pass to Zach LaVine on a quick counterattack that capped a dominant second quarter from Chicago.

Bulls guard Josh Giddey spoke about Ball and LaVine’s highlight play after the win, emphasizing Ball’s importance to the team and how he plays successful basketball.

“That kind of sums him up, both sides of the ball,” Giddey said of Ball. “Gets a big steal, throws it to Zach and makes a highlight play. He brings that energy to this team, that spark. He’s a guy with a very, very high IQ who will make things work out for this team.”

As one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, the Bulls desperately need Ball to take on a larger role and make a difference on both sides of the ball. This one play just sums up what Ball can bring to this Bulls team if he stays healthy.

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