1006 days later, "Lamelo Ball" returned to the court. Although it was just a preseason game, his performance against the Timberwolves was nothing short of a surprise. Shooting 4 for 6 (including 2 for 4 from three-point range), he scored 10 points, dished out 1 assist, grabbed 1 steal, and blocked 1 shot.

If you know the type of surgery Ball had on his left knee, you would understand that his return to the court itself is a miracle.

In March 2023, Ball underwent his third left knee surgery in over a year. The Bulls stated that it was a "cartilage transplantation surgery." Later, Ball revealed on a show that his left knee had no meniscus or cartilage left, and the bones were rubbing against each other. He underwent a meniscus transplantation surgery on his left knee, along with a simultaneous cartilage transplantation surgery.

Experts in the industry considered this surgery "radical" because no NBA player had returned to the court after undergoing a similar procedure. But Ball took a gamble. He believed in the rapid advances of modern medicine in enhancing the ability of professional athletes to recover from major injuries. For now, Ball's gamble seems to be paying off as he stepped back onto the court.

Injuries are a hurdle that players cannot escape. Over the years, players have battled various types of injuries, some of which were once believed to end careers or result in a significant decline in performance. However, some players not only made a comeback, but also displayed performances that surpassed expectations.

Bernard King

On March 24, 1985, the Knicks played against the Kansas City Kings on the road. Scoring leader Bernard King, who averaged 32.9 points per game, suffered a serious injury to his knee. The examination revealed that he had torn his right anterior cruciate ligament. On April 2, King underwent ligament repair surgery.

Tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee is still considered a serious injury today, but it does not necessarily mean the end of a player's career. Most people can fully recover and regain their previous speed. However, during King's time, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament was seen as a career-ending injury. Upon hearing the diagnosis, King "cried until his eyes swelled up." The doctor told him not to think about returning to the NBA, but to first focus on walking normally.

King sought out renowned doctors and ultimately chose Knicks team physician Dr. Norman Scott to perform the surgery. One month after the surgery, King looked at his swollen knee and atrophied muscles in the mirror and asked himself, "Can I still play?"

King went through a long rehabilitation period. He overcame his fear of water and learned how to swim, using the pool for knee rehabilitation. He hired a physical therapist to help him with six days of rehab training, five hours a day, for a continuous period of two years. On April 11, 1987, King returned to the court.

What makes King's story legendary is that he made a successful transformation after his knee injury and returned to his peak form. "If there is something I have to do in my life, I always feel that I must do it to the best of my ability. This belief drives me and gives me motivation. I know that returning to the court requires great effort, but I yearn to come back. I don't just want to return to the court; I want to come back as an All-Star." King achieved it. After averaging 20+ points for two consecutive seasons, King averaged 28.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in the 1990-91 season, returning to the All-Star team and earning a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. King is regarded as one of the pioneers who overcame torn anterior cruciate ligaments and returned to their peak form. Donovan mentioned King's pioneering significance when encouraging Ball.

Sean Elliott

Elliott, the famous "kidney warrior" in the NBA.

In the 1992-93 season, the 1989 third overall pick averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for the Spurs, earning his first All-Star selection and becoming a valuable sidekick to David Robinson. But it was during that season that Elliott began experiencing health problems. He always felt drowsy and lost his appetite, and his hands, feet, and face started to swell. The examination revealed that Elliott had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that affects kidney function and the filtration of waste in the blood.

Despite his condition, Elliott continued to play until the Spurs won the championship in 1999. In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals that year, Elliott delivered a classic performance. With 9 seconds left in the game and the Spurs trailing the Trail Blazers by 2 points, Elliott hit a difficult game-winning three-pointer, leaving Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire in awe. That season, the Spurs went on to win the NBA Finals against the Knicks, fulfilling Elliott's championship dream.

After the Spurs' championship victory, Elliott faced two choices: either undergo dialysis and end his career or undergo a kidney transplant and have a chance to return to the court. Elliott chose the kidney transplant, with his brother Noel Elliott as the donor.

On March 15, 2000, Elliott returned to the court. He became the first professional athlete, not only in the NBA, to return to the court after receiving a kidney transplant. After retiring, Elliott dedicated himself to charity work, working to raise awareness of kidney health. When Alonzo Mourning underwent a kidney transplant in 2003, Elliott helped him a lot, assisting him in a successful return to the court.

Kevin Durant

Looking at historical cases, players who suffer Achilles tendon tears either retire or see a significant drop in their performance, as seen with Kobe Bryant. The first player recognized for overcoming this injury was Dominique Wilkins, and his experience has served as an inspiration for many. However, even Wilkins saw his efficiency gradually decline after his comeback.

The real medical miracle creator is Durant, as recognized by Wilkins, who said, "He has become the spokesperson for this injury."

In the 2019 NBA Finals, Durant suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury. He invested a significant amount of time and money into his recovery. Durant's Achilles tendon surgery was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Martin O'Malley, who used a new technique for stitching the injury. Combined with more modern and scientific rehabilitation techniques, Durant achieved a triumphant comeback.

Data analysts initially predicted that Durant's offensive efficiency would decrease after his return from the Achilles tendon injury. However, Durant's shooting percentages in the past four seasons have been 53.7%, 51.8%, 56%, and 52.3% respectively. In his first season back, Durant had a true shooting percentage of 66.6% with a usage rate of 31.3%. Furthermore, in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, Durant continued to set career-high true shooting percentages.

Durant's triumphant return has given other injury-plagued players confidence. WNBA Most Valuable Player Breanna Stewart, Klay Thompson, and MLB outfielder Sterling Shepard, among others, have sought advice from Durant after suffering Achilles tendon injuries. Some have consulted with Dr. O'Malley, recommended by Durant, while others have sought advice on their recovery process. Durant has been open to helping others with their comeback journeys.

The rapid advancement of modern medicine has given injured players the confidence to achieve miracles. Just like Durant said, "Times have changed, and encountering a serious injury doesn't mean it's the end of the world."

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