Some big news emerged on Friday regarding LaMelo Ball.
Ball is being shut down for the rest of the season as his Charlotte Hornets limp to the finish line of the 2024-2025 season. Ball has been battling ankle and wrist injuries that have caused him to miss time this year. He has missed 25 of the Hornets’ 72 games due to his injuries, and he is deciding to undergo surgery to help him heal for the long term. He will undergo two different procedures according to a report.
Ball, who is in his fifth NBA season, was averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game this season. In addition to his lofty points average, he also was averaging 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.
The Hornets enter play on Friday 18-54. That’s the third-worst mark in the NBA. At this point in the season, it makes sense for them to try to fight for the best draft lottery position possible.
Unfortunately, this latest injury is a reflection of Ball’s inability to stay healthy. His career-high for games played was 75 in 2021-2022. His 47 games played this season was the most he’s had over the last three years. He played in just 22 last season and 36 the season before. He was knocked out for most of the season two years ago also due to an ankle injury.
The Hornets on Thursday had marked Ball unavailable for Friday’s game due to an ankle impingement, suggesting a shutdown for the rest of the season was imminent. That’s exactly what happened.
