The Charlotte Hornets are a team that consistently flies under the radar in the NBA.
The reason behind that is they have been bad for many years.
Looking at the first 15 games of this year, that seems to be the case once again.
With a 5-10 record, the Hornets seemed destined for another year of missing the playoffs.
At least they seem to have the right players in place to turn their organization around.
One player who has been great for the Hornets is 2020 third-overall pick LaMelo Ball.
This is his fourth NBA season and he has already been named to one All-Star team.
Statistically speaking, Ball is having a career year this season as well.
All he needs to do is stay healthy, which seems to be a common problem for the 22-year-old.
According to ClutchPoints, Ball suffered an ankle injury in his last game and will miss Tuesday’s contest.
LaMelo Ball (right ankle) has been ruled OUT today's In-Season Tournament matchup vs. the Knicks, Hornets have announced. pic.twitter.com/Ctf4TXFSZX
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 28, 2023
Hopefully, the Hornets are just being cautious with their star player.
Ball has become one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
He is averaging 24.7 points per game to go along with 8.2 assists.
Ball is known for his flashy passes, and always setting his teammates up for easy baskets.
Playing in the Eastern Conference means there are playoff spots up for grabs each year.
The East is the weaker of the two conferences and even after a rough start, the Hornets are not out of it.
But, they will need Ball to be healthy and productive if they have any chance of competing.
NEXT: Insider Reports Hornets Have 'Strong Interest' In Bulls Star