In a heartwarming scene on Wednesday, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball hosted the family of a late knee cartilage donor who helped him out two years ago.
Ball, who has had frequent knee issues since entering the NBA, underwent a meniscus and cartilage transplant in his left knee in March 2023 after several unsuccessful procedures failed to remedy an issue dating back to the previous season. Ball’s surgeon told ESPN that the procedure was a ‘Hail Mary.’
The point guard received the cartilage of the late Alex Reinhardt of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, and on Wednesday Ball and Reinhardt’s family met near the Bulls bench prior to tip-off.
‘It’s been extremely emotional,’ Alex’s mother, Angie, said. ‘So much happiness comes with it, too. All of the people that are donor recipients of Alex’s, we’re just blessed.
‘We’ve had mothers from some people that have said things. Now we get to meet Lonzo. It’s just a blessing to be able to watch people do well with their knees or anything because of Alex. Of course, we wish he was here.’
Reinhardt died at the age of 20 in February 2023.
Lonzo Ball has been able to return to the court this season following a knee cartilage transplant
Ball, seen in January 2023, missed two full NBA seasons due to his knee problems
Angie said the family got a call from the donor network saying an athlete who received some of Alex’s tissue was interested in meeting the family. A few weeks later, they found out the recipient was Ball. The meeting came together soon after that.
Ball, who has returned to play in 35 games this year, signed jerseys and took pictures with Reinhardt’s mother, father, two brothers and soon-to-be sister-in-law.
The guard and former UCLA star missed the entirety of the last two seasons and – prior to receiving cartilage from Reinhardt – the future of his NBA career was highly in jeopardy.
In an interview with ESPN late last year, Ball wondered if wearing shoes from his father Lavar’s company, Big Baller Brand, caused his knee issues.
‘I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you,’ Ball said. ‘I wasn’t really getting hurt like that until I started wearing them.’
He was unavailable on Wednesday due to a sprained right wrist, but he played for the Bulls on Opening Night this season and his outlook is far better than before he first crossed paths with the Reinhardts.
‘To be able to keep helping people after his death really feels like a blessing to all of us,’ Angie said.
Without Ball in the lineup, the Bulls managed to beat the Heat 119-111.
