Lonzo Ball met the family of the donor whose cartilage helped him return to basketball after two seasons away.
The Chicago Bulls guard welcomed Alex Reinhardt’s parents, brothers and future sister-in-law to the United Center on 9 April 2025.
Ball thanks the Reinhardt family
Ball hugged Alex’s father, Carl, and thanked each family member before Chicago played Miami. He signed jerseys and posed for photographs with them near the Bulls bench.
Ball told the family that Alex’s donation had changed his life.
“It’s been extremely emotional,” Alex’s mother, Angie, said. “To be able to keep helping people after his death really feels like a blessing to all of us.&
Cartilage donation helps rebuild Ball’s knee
Alex Reinhardt died on 26 February 2023 at 20. The former high school wrestler and college football player became an organ and tissue donor.
Ball received cartilage from Alex during the third operation on his left knee in March 2023. The procedure also used donor meniscus and other cartilage as surgeons rebuilt the joint.
The operation allowed Ball to return in 2024-25 after missing two full seasons.
Family learns the recipient was an NBA player
The Iowa Donor Network contacted the Reinhardts when a prominent athlete wanted to thank them. Weeks later, they learned it was Ball.
Carl said agreeing to donate was one of the family’s hardest decisions, made only hours after Alex’s death. Ball pushed for the meeting and his agent arranged the trip to Chicago.
Ball could not play against the Heat because of a wrist injury, but the evening was about the person who made his basketball comeback possible.
