The Charlotte Hornets have officially announced that LaMelo Ball will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season as he continues to rehab from his right ankle injury. Ball sustained the injury against the Orlando Magic in a game just three days after Thanksgiving and has been sidelined since then. This is the same ankle that Ball had surgery on at the end of the previous season.
At the time of his injury, Ball was playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 25.9 points and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Ball throughout his NBA career, with three out of his four seasons being cut short due to various injuries. With only 58 games played over the past two seasons, there has been speculation that the Hornets may consider trading Ball, especially given his max contract that will kick in next season.
Rookie Brandon Miller has emerged as a key player for the Hornets this season, indicating that he will be part of the team’s core moving forward. The challenge will be to see how Ball and Miller can mesh on the court, likely under a new head coach. This process may not start until next training camp, as the team works to develop chemistry and cohesion between its young core players.