The Charlotte Hornets will have to play at least a few games without LaMelo Ball.
The point guard sustained a left ankle sprain on Monday and will be reevaluated in a week, the team announced Wednesday. The injury occurred when Ball, after shooting a 3-pointer, walked backward into Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt while admiring his shot.
After hitting one of his one-legged thee-pointer, LaMelo Ball stepped on Jarred Vanderbilt’s foot walking down the court and looks to have turned his ankle.
Limped off the court straight to the locker room.pic.twitter.com/34f2P70MnD
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) January 28, 2025
The Hornets have four games scheduled against the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks through next Wednesday. The team currently ranks second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with a 12-31 record, ahead of only the Wizards.
Ball’s injury news comes a day before NBA All-Star reserves are set to be announced. The 23-year-old was the leading vote-getter among fans, who controlled 50% of the balloting. He missed out on the starting lineup due to the other 50% controlled by the players and media. Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks were selected instead.
Ball currently ranks fourth in the NBA in point per game at 28.2 (he was at 28.9 before Monday’s partial game, in which he scored seven points in nine minutes) along with 7.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. He is shooting 41.9% from the field, nearly a career low, and a career-low 33.7% from 3-point range.
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