Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Undergoes surgery on wrist, ankle
Rotowire
The Hornets announced Wednesday that Ball has undergone successful surgeries on his right wrist and right ankle, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Ball is expected to resume full basketball activities in five to six weeks, which is a good sign for the Hornets moving forward. The rising star posted a strong 2024-25 campaign, averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Ball will miss the rest of the season while he soon undergoes two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist injuries, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
The ankle issue looks to be the more pressing concern for Ball, who had been listed as out for Friday's game in Toronto due to a right ankle impingement. The fifth-year point guard is expected to be back to full health for the start of training camp in the fall. Ball played in 47 games this season, averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 3.8 three-pointers and 1.1 steals in 32.0 minutes per contest while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Won't play vs. Toronto
Rotowire
Ball (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Raptors.
After coming one assist shy of a double-double in Tuesday's loss to the Magic, Ball will miss Friday's matchup in Toronto. KJ Simpson could draw the start for this game, with Damion Baugh, Nick Smith and Seth Curry potentially seeing more time on the floor.
Ball ended with 25 points (9-13 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound and nine assists over 29 minutes before fouling out of Tuesday's 111-104 loss to the Magic.
Ball fouled out in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in another loss for the Hornets, but the star floor general continues to make a significant impact on both ends of the court for a struggling Charlotte team. Ball has been instrumental for the Hornets all season long as a scorer or playmaker. While the lack of efficiency from a shooting perspective can impact his value in some formats, he remains an excellent fantasy asset. He has a very high ceiling whenever he's deemed available due to his sky-high usage rate. He's averaging 21.5 points, 8.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game since the beginning of March.
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Hornets' LaMelo Ball: Double-doubles in loss to Miami
Rotowire
Ball finished Sunday's 122-105 loss to the Heat with 18 points (6-19 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, 11 assists and two steals across 34 minutes.
Ball didn't play against the Thunder on Friday but returned to action Sunday and notched another double-double, his third across his last six appearances. The star floor general remains one of the Hornets' most reliable fantasy options, but his upside can be somewhat limited due to the resting patterns the Hornets might employ in the final weeks of the regular season. Ball is averaging 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game over his last 10 appearances.
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