The Charlotte Hornets lost against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, but that's probably not the biggest news for the franchise that day. The defeat was expected, especially since Charlotte has an incentive to rack up as many losses as possible while the Pacers are looking to lock up at least the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Of course, a win would have been nice, as the Hornets beat Indiana in their first two meetings. It was their last chance to sweep a regular-season series versus an East squad, but it was not meant to be. They will end the 2024-25 campaign with a sweep of just two opponents, the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz.
However, the organization and its fans were likely quick to throw the loss and missed opportunity behind it because a piece of good news about LaMelo Ball made rounds during the day.
LaMelo Ball won't have to stay away from basketball for long
The Hornets announced on social media that the star underwent arthroscopic surgery on both joints that have been giving him issues both in the past and this season. If there aren't any complications, he is expected to make a full recovery in less than two months, giving him the chance to return to the court even before the offseason begins.
OFFICIAL: LaMelo Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle and right wrist. Ball is expected to make a full recovery and return to full basketball activity within 5-6 weeks.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) April 2, 2025
With Charlotte's season having been over for a while now, it made sense for the team to shut Ball down. Allowing him to go through the surgery as early as possible would provide him with the chance to have a whole summer of basketball instead of his recovery getting in the way.
Hopefully, the medical treatment Ball received will finally give him a clean bill of health. Fans should temper their expectations, though, as the 23-year-old's body has already gone through a lot. Perhaps there are some adjustments to his preparation or gear that can help avert significant injuries. After all, other stars have also been able to overcome their injury-prone days in the early years of their career to find massive success in the league. Stephen Curry comes to mind.
Roster improvement can also help preserve Melo's health, especially considering that his usage rate this year has been significantly high and likely unsustainable. With Brandon Miller expected also to make a full recovery and a hopefully top draft pick making its way to Buzz City, Ball shouldn't have to do too much or overwork his body to find ways for the squad to win.