Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play for the rest of the season. Reports indicate he is expected to have two surgeries to repair injuries to his wrist and ankle. Ball has already missed games this season due to his ankle, and lower body injuries have been a recurring issue throughout his first five NBA seasons.
These surgeries will address his current problems, meaning he will be absent for Charlotte`s remaining nine regular-season games. Looking ahead, Ball`s consistent injury struggles are a major concern for the Hornets, who consider him a key player for the franchise`s future. He has only played more than 60 games in a season once, during his second year when he became an All-Star. Since then, he has played an average of just 35 games per season over the last three years, a worrying trend for Charlotte.
Injuries to Ball and other Hornets players have destroyed any hopes of success for Charlotte this season. Brandon Miller suffered a season-ending injury early on, Grant Williams is also out for the season, and Tre Mann, who seemed to be improving significantly in his fourth year, is also sidelined.
Injuries have become the defining story for a Hornets team that has struggled at the bottom of the league for nearly a decade. A potential bright spot is that Charlotte could have a good chance to draft Duke standout freshman Cooper Flagg if they get the top pick in the draft lottery. Adding Flagg would be a game-changer for the Hornets and would immediately improve the team`s future prospects. A lineup featuring Flagg, Ball, and Miller would be very promising, along with the solid supporting players Charlotte has.
However, everything depends on landing Flagg and Ball staying healthy. Ball is a player who divides opinions, with some seeing him as a scorer who gets impressive stats but doesn`t contribute to winning. While there might be some truth to that, Ball`s exceptional scoring ability is undeniable. He is one of the most exciting players to watch and was close to his second All-Star selection after leading Eastern Conference guards in fan votes. Ball didn`t make the All-Star team, and things have gone downhill for him and the Hornets since then. The team currently has a record of 18 wins and 54 losses, which is the third-worst in the league.
This season might have been lost even before Ball`s surgery news, but now the Hornets can fully focus on preparing for the draft and getting players healthy for the next season.
