LaMelo Ball had a career season, and not much help on the Hornets. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen via Getty Images)
LaMelo Ball’s offseason is getting started early.
The Charlotte Hornets star was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing a pair of procedures on his right ankle and wrist, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Ball had reportedly been playing through pain in recent weeks before team doctors concluded undergoing the procedure now would allow him to have a full, productive offseason.
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With a record of 18-54, third-worst in the Eastern Conference, and 10 games remaining on their regular-season schedule, the Hornets didn’t have much reason to push Ball any further. The San Antonio Spurs made a similar decision with De’Aaron Fox, having their star point guard undergo a procedure during the season so he could have more time healthy in the offseason.
The decision ends a good season for Ball, who averaged a career-high 25.2 points per game plus 7.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 33.9% shooting from 3-point range. His numbers were far better before the All-Star break, when he would have been fully healthy, and was one of the larger snubs from the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
Despite strong numbers throughout his career, healthy remains a concern for Ball. With only 47 games played this season, it is now his third-straight season with fewer than 50 appearances, as ankle injuries have significantly hobbled him during that span.
The larger concern for the Hornets, though, might be the players around him. With 47 starts, Ball actually ranked third on the Hornets this year in games started, and they went 2-23 in games without him. You can criticize Ball’s play-style or actual value, but it’s hard to argue he’s ever had a teammate who can make full use of his skills as a facilitator, despite him finishing up his fifth season this week.
