LaMelo Ball is injured. Here’s what’s wrong with Hornets’ star, how long he could be out
LaMelo Ball’s streak of injury luck is over.
After being one of the few key members of the Charlotte Hornets’ rotation to escape missing any time, that’s about to change. Ball is listed as out for Friday’s NBA Cup game against the New York Knicks due to left calf soreness, delivering another blow to a team ravaged by injuries.
Ball apparently got banged up on the final sequence of Wednesday night’s loss to Miami, and the team said the star point guard will “continue to be evaluated” and updates on his status will be provided when appropriate.
That seriously puts his availability for Saturday’s game against Atlanta in jeopardy as well. And he joins a lengthy injury list that includes Miles Bridges (knee), Tre Mann (low back), Nick Richards (rib) and Mark Williams (foot).
Factor in Grant Williams’ season being over due to a torn ACL and it’s been a rather busy time for the team’s new 10-person performance staff.
Ball played through a bruised tailbone in late October and has been mostly healthy in his fifth season, the first year of a max rookie contract extension that could be worth over $200 million.
In Ball’s previous four seasons leading into 2024-25, he’s logged more than 36 games just once — during his All-Star year in 2021-22. Last season, after starting things off slowly as he recovered from March 1 surgery on his right ankle, he couldn’t stay off the injured list— playing in a career-low 22 games due to lingering soreness — and was sidelined for the final three months.
But he’s playing at an All-Star level this season, ranking first in the NBA in total points (559), second in points per game (31.1), second in total made 3-pointers (84) and second in 3-pointers per game (4.7). Additionally, he leads the league in fourth quarter points per game (11.1), field goals per game (3.9) and 3-pointers per game (1.6).
Without Ball and Mann, who remains sidelined and will miss his fourth straight game on Friday, the Hornets will be extremely thin at point guard. Vasa Micic, Nick Smith Jr. and even rookie KJ Simpson could be called on to handle the primary ball-handling duties at times, and first-year coach Charles Lee can also use Brandon Miller, Josh Smith and Cody Martin as facilitators.
But no one will be as dynamic as Ball, leaving a serious void in the Hornets’ attack.
This story was originally published November 28, 2024 at 5:31 PM.
