The NBA season hasn’t even started and Charlotte Hornets superstar LaMelo Ball has already suffered his first injury.
The injury occurred on Monday night as the Hornets faced off against the Washington Wizards, when Ball experienced what the team called a left ankle sprain after his foot was stepped on by Anthony Gill of the Wiz.
Ball went down quickly and left the game following that.
LaMelo Ball suffered a left ankle sprain and will not return to tonight's preseason game. pic.twitter.com/BwHRHWWNqC
— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) October 11, 2022
On Tuesday, the team said that Ball will have an MRI to see the extent of the injury in his left ankle.
The hope is that Ball is back on his feet in no time, definitely before the team starts its regular season on October 19 against the San Antonio Spurs.
If they wish to have a huge season, Ball will obviously be a big part of it.
The Hero Of The Hornets
Ball is the heart and soul of the Hornets and it’s clear that he will be a crucial part of the team’s success.
Without him, Charlotte’s chance of making the postseason is all but gone.
Ball is an All-Star and former Rookie of the Year, scoring 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 2021-22.
While he is a legitimate, terrific talent, the rest of the team around him isn’t producing like he is.
Ball has been stellar for his first two seasons in the league but the Hornets haven’t reached the playoffs yet.
There was hope that could change this year but the team didn’t make too many adjustments during the summer.
The bottom line is that Ball will need to stay healthy to keep the dream of his Hornets alive.
We will know soon if he will be joining them for opening night next week.
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