Amid trade rumors a day ahead of the deadline, the Chicago Bulls gave point guard Lonzo Ball a two-year, $20 million contract extension, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.
The second season of the new pact is a club option, according to Chicago Sports Network.
Ball was sidelined for more than two seasons, undergoing three operations on his left knee, before returning to action for the Bulls’ season opener in October.
He played in three of the team’s first four games this campaign before sitting out 15 games due to a sprained right wrist. Ball returned in late November and served as a solid contributor off the bench before moving into the starting lineup in late January.
Ball started eight consecutive games, averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists, before sitting out Wednesday night in the second game of a back-to-back set. Without Ball, the Bulls fell 127-108 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
On the season, Ball is contributing 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30 games (nine starts).
For his career with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-18 to 2018-19), New Orleans Pelicans (2019-20 to 2020-21) and Chicago (2021-22 and 2024-25), Ball is averaging 11.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 282 games (248 starts).
Despite their 22-30 record, the Bull sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the final play-in position.
