LaMelo Ball’s injury nightmare continues

Now in his fifth season in the NBA, the fitness of Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball remains a major problem. He has made 60 appearances just once in his professional career to date and won’t hit that mark this season after another round of bad news.

A statement from the team confirms: “LaMelo Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery to address a right ankle impingement. He will also have a minor procedure on his right wrist. Ball is listed as out for tonight’s game vs TOR and will miss the remainder of the season.”

Breaking the news, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported: “Ball showed toughness, playing through pain in recent weeks, before he and team consulted doctors on best course forward.”

The Hornets currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with an unenviable record of 18-54. Ball’s injuries are not the only fitness issues affecting the team’s progression, with season-ending injuries to Brandon Miller and Grant Williams causing major problems. Likewise, Tre Mann has been sidelined since November with a back injury.

If there’s any good news to take from this season for the Hornets, it’s that their poor performances give them a reasonable chance of securing one of the most highly-rated draft prospects of recent years. Duke’s freshman sensation Cooper Flagg has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and the 6ft 7in forward looks capable of being a transformational presence.

In Thursday night’s win over Arizona Flagg put up 30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in a showing that Duke coach Jon Scheyer described as “one of the best tournament performances I’ve ever coached or been a part of.”

If he were added to a Hornets team alongside a fully-fit Ball, the picture in Charlotte could change pretty quickly. Despite the injuries, LaMelo Ball has impressed while on the court this season. He’s averaging 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in an underperforming Hornets team.

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