With the report that LaMelo Ball will be missing the rest of the season to address some lingering issues with his wrist and ankle, the Charlotte Hornets star is set to miss at least 35 games for the fourth time in five seasons.
However, with Charlotte's season already lost and the team looking to secure as many ping-pong balls in the 2025 draft lottery as possible, it was only a matter of time until it shut Ball down to help him recover from his injuries. On the bright side, Hornets coach Charles Lee stated that the procedures his ward will undergo are just minor. Hopefully, there won't be any complications, and Melo can start the 2025-26 campaign without a hitch.
Wishing for Ball to stay healthy might require some good fortune to be on his side because his bouts with injuries throughout his young career have been rather lengthy.
LaMelo Ball's injury history in the NBA
Right wrist fracture, March 2021
Some might be surprised that Ball was off to a healthy start to his NBA stint. He suited up in the first 41 games of his rookie campaign before a fractured right wrist sidelined him for 20 contests. He then made it back to the lineup, finishing the last 10 matches of the 2020-21 season to solidify his spot at the top of the Rookie of the Year race.
Right hip contusion, November 2021
Ball almost had to sit out an early part of the healthiest season of his career after sustaining a hip contusion. As it turned out, he didn't have to miss a game because of it.
Health and safety protocols, December 2021
As fate would have it, the point guard out of Chino Hills, Calif., had to sit out some contests in the 2021-22 season, along with four other Hornets players. They were placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols for presumably testing positive for COVID-19. Ball returned after a six-game absence.
Undisclosed illness, January 2022
Interestingly, Ball didn't have to sit out a meeting in the 2021-22 campaign because of an injury. He missed another in late January, but it was because of an illness unrelated to the coronavirus. Charlotte won the game despite his absence, and LaMelo appeared in every game afterward.
Left ankle sprain, October 2022
Ball's injury woes began in the 2022-23 preseason when he suffered from a grade 2 sprain on his left ankle, causing him to miss the Hornets' last three preseason matches and the first 13 of the regular season.
Left ankle sprain, November 2022
Just three games after making his season debut, Ball reinjured his left ankle when he stepped on a fan's foot during the Hornets' loss to the Indiana Pacers. That caused the star to exit the court to the locker room with a limp and sit out 11 more contests.
Left ankle sprain, January 2023
Some fans probably understand why Charlotte wants to be careful with its cornerstone, especially since Ball has a history of aggravating an injury. A little over a month following his return to the court after reinjuring his left ankle, he sustained another sprain after former teammate P.J. Washington landed on his foot after contesting a shot inside the paint. The 2022 All-Star ended up missing three more matches.
Right ankle fracture, February 2023
If people thought it couldn't get worse for Ball's ankles in the 2022-23 campaign, they were wrong, as he broke his right ankle late in February. The squad announced soon after that he sustained a fracture that would require surgery, effectively ending his season after 36 appearances.
Right ankle strain, November 2023
Ball successfully completed his rehab from a fractured right ankle in time for the opening of the 2023-24 season. He even looked ready to pick up where he left off, averaging 25.9 points (on 44-39-86 shooting splits), 5.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per match in the first 14 games of the campaign. However, he hurt his surgically repaired ankle during the following meeting, resulting in another lengthy absence.
Right ankle injury rehab, January 2024
After sitting out 20 contests, Ball returned to the Hornets' lineup in the middle of January. Unfortunately, the ankle continued to be problematic, leading to the organization deciding to shut him down after only a total of 22 appearances to allow him to focus fully on his recovery.
Left calf strain, November 2024
LaMelo's continuous bout with the injury bug took a different turn earlier in the 2024-25 campaign when he felt discomfort in his left calf last November after an amazing four-game stretch of recording 40.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per match. The diagnosis was a strain, resulting in a two-week absence and some more.
Ankle and wrist soreness, December 2024 onward
A little less than a week since Ball returned from his calf injury, he was listed as out due to ankle and wrist soreness. Over the following weeks, the 23-year-old playmaker continued to battle discomfort in the same spots. The longest stretch of meetings he suited up in was seven, as he has had to be sidelined every now and then as part of his injury management program.
Considering that his performance has noticeably dipped from how it had been at the beginning of the regular season, it's only right for Ball and the team to ensure he gets back to optimal health and prepare him for a possible return to contention in the 2025-26 campaign.