Charlotte Hornets star guard, LaMelo Ball, who they have built the entire franchise around, will miss the final 10 games of the season, starting Friday night against the Toronto Raptors, as he prepares to undergo two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist issues, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.
Ball has been playing through the pain and gutting it out in recent weeks, and team doctors and outside specialists came to the decision that the two procedures will allow Ball to recover and have a full offseason to train.
Ball’s injuries were clearly noticeable because his production went down, and since February 7th, the former All-Star was averaging 19.4 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 36.9% from the field and 34.5% from downtown. Prior to the injury the young star was having a career year, becoming the first Hornet to ever average 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single season.
The news is disappointing but not surprising for Hornets fans, but long-term health for LaMelo should be prioritized over having him play out the string of the season on a team that has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Hornets have posted a record of 18-54, holding the third-highest odds in the upcoming draft. Their focus will no doubt shift toward the development of less experienced players such as Nick Smith Jr. and KJ Simpson at the guard position to end the year, as it is unlikely Tre Mann will return.
Charlotte saw minor success with lineups featuring Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams, but their time on the court together was limited due to injuries.
Miller missed time with injuries, including a sprained ankle, before undergoing season-ending right wrist surgery in January. Bridges was on the shelf for close to a month with a bone bruise in his right knee, and Williams began the season injured before a potential trade to the Los Angeles Lakers fail through over a failed physical.
Another disappointing loss for the Hornets, as their big 4 of Ball, Bridges, Miller, and Williams have yet to really see meaningful time together at this point.
