The Charlotte Hornets may have finally resolved LaMelo Ball’s ankle issues

Over the past two seasons, Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has missed an astonishing 106 games due to injury. I spent most of that time on the sidelines dealing with ankle injuries that started in pre-season two years ago and have been an ongoing problem ever since.

Prior to the 2023-2024 campaign, LaMelo tried wearing ankle braces, but was unable to find a pair that would not only prevent the injury from recurring, but also allow him to move without feeling pain or affecting his joints. play.

According to head coach Charles Lee, the plan is for Ball to wear braces from the beginning of the season.

“Injuries are unfortunately part of the game in every sport. What we can do and what we can control is a big part of the preparation we put in beforehand. I think he’s shown real commitment this offseason by coming to the field, being consistent, rehabbing his ankle and working as a team to address some areas where he may be limited and trying to improve. There were some really good conversations and I think our executive staff, front office and coaching staff put a really good plan in place. I think the plan at the beginning of the year is to wear the brace as much as possible to put it in the best position for success. During the season, we will assess how much this helps, how much it hurts, or whether the situation remains status quo.

After missing so much time over the last two seasons, the Hornets cannot afford for Ball to miss part of the 2024-2025 season. Not only will this hurt their ability to win games, but it will also be a financial burden. The organization gave him a max contract last July, and it’s impossible to get a positive return on investment if he’s not on the court.

Fortunately, he seems to be in a good place at the moment.

“Melo is in a great place from a health standpoint. He also had a really good summer. It was nice to see his level of commitment. He loves Charlotte and was actually in Charlotte the whole time, which was great. He devoted his time not only on the court, but also in the gym and training room. It’s in a really good place. He is one of the best point guards in the NBA. His skills are very good. We challenged him by just taking the next step defensively. How can you continue to put in a little more effort and put in a lot of effort and continue to try to help towards that goal without seeing the offense deteriorate?

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