February 28, (THEWILL) – Charlotte Hornets’ guard LaMelo Ball suffered a right ankle fracture during Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, according to a statement from the team.
Ball had only appeared in 35 of Charlotte’s 63 games this season, making his season debut in November after a Grade 2 high left ankle sprain kept him out for the first 13 games.
Despite the team’s 117-106 win over the Pistons, the injury is a significant blow for the 21-year-old who had been enjoying a breakout season, averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. With the Hornets already out of playoff contention, Ball’s injury puts his participation in training camp next fall in doubt.
While the Hornets are now even less likely to make the playoffs, the injury is unlikely to impact the team’s draft lottery position, as they are currently in fourth place for the worst record in the league. The team will have to navigate a tough stretch without their star player, hoping that Ball will make a full recovery in time for next season, with only 19 games remaining in the season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
