Charlotte Hornets‘ guard LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season with a fractured right ankle, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Ball suffered the injury in the team’s win over the Pistons on Monday (Feb. 27).
Hornets All-Star LaMelo Ball will miss the remainder of the season with his fractured right ankle, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ball has had multiple left ankle sprains this season before suffering the right ankle fracture on Monday night.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 28, 2023
The injury occurred during a non-contact play in the third quarter of the Hornets’ 117-106 home win over Detroit. In a now-viral clip, Ball appeared to be telling his coach that he heard his ankle pop after falling to the ground during a dribble move. Ball also grabbed the ankle right away after falling.
The 2020-21 Rookie of the Year, Ball is averaging 23.3 points and 8.4 assists per game this season, the team leader and career highs in both categories. He’s shooting over 37% from three and his 3.9 made 3-pointers per game ranks fourth in the NBA.
This is not Ball’s first experience with an ankle injury, as the 21-year-old rolled his left ankle on an opposing player during a preseason game against the Wizards that sidelined him for the first 13 games of this season. He reinjured the ankle three games into his return and was out for another 11 games.
LaMelo Ball had to leave the game early after suffering a non contact injury
“It popped. I heard it pop.”pic.twitter.com/SYZZVXkafZ
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) February 28, 2023
The Hornets sit at 14th in the Eastern Conference and firmly out of the playoff hunt, so there’s no real reason to rush Ball back onto the court. The win against the Pistons was their fifth straight, but Ball’s injury dampens any positive momentum the streak may have caused.
The Ball family has had a string of bad luck with injuries, as Bulls guard Lonzo Ball was officially shut down for the rest of the season on Feb. 21 with a knee injury. LaMelo’s older brother has not played since Jan. 14, 2022 despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason.
Let us know what you think of LaMelo Ball’s injury and the impact it’ll have on the Hornets by leaving a reaction at the bottom of this post or by tweeting us @celebsecrets.
