Lonzo Ball Meets Donor’s Family, Honors Alex Reinhardt

The young man who donated his tissue helped the NBA star take a crucial step towards returning to the court. Alex Reinhardt was tragically killed in 2023 at the age of 20.

In a moment that transcended basketball, Lonzo Ball met Alex Reinhardt’s family in a decisive and emotional moment. Even in his final moments, he gave the gift of life and healing through tissue donation. His family was told that his knee tissue had been donated to an elite athlete. What they didn’t know until last week was that the recipient was none other than Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball.

Ball, who has been absent since January 2022 due to multiple complicated knee injuries, had a rare cartilage transplant surgery last year. The procedure marked a critical turning point after months of pain and uncertainty. Alex’s selfless gift was the driving force behind that success. On Wednesday night, in front of thousands of the United Center, Lonzo Ball hosted the Reinhardt family for the Bulls vs. Heat game in Chicago. The meeting between the Ball and Reinhardt families of the court was a profoundly moving experience, full of tears, hugs, and gratitude.

The Reinhardt family, who wore custom Bulls jerseys that reflected Alex’s name, was given special privileges to attend the game. In the tunnel, they sat down with Lonzo and shared stories about Alex’s life, love for sports, and kindness.

“It’s just a blessing to be able to watch people do well with their knees and anything because of Alex. Of course, we wish he was here,” said Angie Reinhardt, Alex’s mother.

Lonzo Ball, absent from NBA games for over two years, recently stated that he feels the best he has in a long time. He’s been working on his recovery and is looking forward to a potential return next season. According to him, Alex is the reason for much of that progress.

R.I.P. Alex Reinhardt. Your legacy is still alive and stronger than ever.