Apr 15, 2024, 4:57 p.m. ET
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball is once again contemplating wearing ankle braces if it means staying on the court.
Ball has been limited to 58 games the past two seasons combined due to ankle issues and has not played for the Charlotte Hornets since Jan. 26. The 2022 All-Star point guard knows that needs to change.
LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 26, 2022 at Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
“I’ll look at it over the summer and try some things,” Ball said of the protective devices.
He said if he can find something that makes him feel good, “we can go from there.”
Ball began wearing ankle braces in practice before the season after three separate ankle injuries in 2022-23 sidelined him for long periods and ultimately resulted in surgery. But he could never find anything he felt completely comfortable with on his feet.
He feels better now and Ball hopes to finally be healthy this summer and work on his game.
“My favorite thing to do is play basketball and not being able to do that is just horrible,” Ball said. “The fact that I got this summer [de estar saludable]”I’m going to take it and do it as hard as I can to go out and play.”
Ball, who is only 22 years old, signed a rookie max contract extension last summer that will pay him up to $260 million over the next five seasons.
When healthy, he was dynamite this season averaging 23.9 points, 8 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 36% from beyond the arc.
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The Hornets believe that if they can keep Ball on the court and pair him with three-time NBA Rookie of the Month Brandon Miller, they can break their eight-year playoff drought, the longest in the NBA.
“He keeps our team going,” Hornets center Nick Richards said. “It’s really important for us to have him on the court.”
Ball said he feels the Hornets have a great team, but “we just need everyone to be available to play.”
Ball wasn’t the only Hornet injured, as starting center Mark Williams and guard Cody Martin missed significant time. Gordon Hayward also battled injuries before being traded. Williams battled back injuries but vowed to be ready next season.
The Hornets will have a new coach as Steve Clifford is stepping down.
Unsurprisingly, Ball’s absences from games have been a source of frustration for Hornets fans, and the No. 3 overall pick in 2020 has drawn plenty of criticism for his lack of durability.
But teammate Miles Bridges said Ball is very competitive and told him he plans to play at least 75 games next season.
“LaMelo wants to be on the court,” Bridges said. “That’s what people think, that he doesn’t want to be on the court and just wants to wear his jewelry on the bench. But he wants to be on the court and he wants to win. He knows how important he is to this organization, and this will be a great summer for him.”
2024-04-15 20:57:00
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