The Charlotte Hornets have announced that they are shutting down guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the 2023-2024 NBA season.
Ball has been sidelined since January 27th dealing with a persistent ankle injury and the Hornets have decided to take the cautious approach by ending his season early.
Background on LaMelo Ball’s Ankle Injury
Ball initially suffered the ankle injury on January 9th against the Washington Wizards.
He missed a few games but returned on January 23rd against the Atlanta Hawks.
However, Ball re-injured the ankle on January 27th against the Houston Rockets and has not played since.
This is not Ball‘s first ankle issue, as he has dealt with multiple sprains dating back to his rookie season. Last season, an ankle injury caused him to miss significant time and limited him to just 36 games played.
Why the Hornets Shut Down Their Star Guard
The decision to shut down Ball was likely influenced by a few key factors:
- The Hornets have a 18-54 record and have been eliminated from playoff contention, so there is no incentive to rush Ball back.
- At just 22 years old, Ball is seen as a franchise cornerstone and the team wants to exercise caution with his long-term health.
- His ankle has not fully healed, as evident by the re-injury in late January after initially returning.
Even though Ball wanted to keep playing, the organization decided it was not worth risking further injury down the stretch of a lost season.
How LaMelo Ball Performed This Season Before Injury
In the 22 games Ball was healthy enough to suit up, he posted impressive numbers:
- 23.9 points per game
- 6.2 rebounds per game
- 8.5 assists per game
He shot an efficient 42.2% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range.
Ball looked poised to make his second All-Star game before going down with injury.
The Hornets struggled with a 7-15 record in games Ball played. But with him sidelined, the team posted a dreadful 11-39 record over their last 50 games.
What This Means for LaMelo Ball’s Future
While this lost season is disappointing, the Hornets are likely making the right decision by protecting their young star. Repeated ankle injuries at a young age could lead to chronic issues if not properly rehabbed.
Ball figures to spend his offseason focused primarily on getting fully healthy. Expect strengthening the ankle to be a major priority before he resumes basketball activities.
With Ball entering year 4 of his NBA career, the Hornets are hoping he can put these injury woes behind him. If he can stay healthy, his immense talent and court vision could help transform Charlotte into a playoff contender.
Last summer, Ball signed a 5-year $193 million maximum rookie contract extension.
The organization invested this money because they believe Ball can be the face of the franchise. Now it is on the training staff to help keep him on the court.
Sources:
www.nba.com/news/hornets-lamelo-ball-out-remainder-2023-24-season
zkrainynba.com/nba-news-lamelo-ball-nie-zagra-juz-do-konca-sezonu/
