Ball was at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice complex meeting with the medical staff and coaches on Monday after his trade from the Chicago Bulls for forward Isaac Okoro was finalized on Sunday. Chicago and Cleveland agreed to the trade on June 28, but it didn’t become official until the start of the new league year on Sunday.

If not for a two-year absence tied to a knee injury and complications from surgery, Lonzo Ball would likely be entering the prime of his NBA career. Instead, the former No. 2 overall pick said he is thankful to be playing at all.