Image Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

LaMelo Ball Injury: Hornets Star Guard Ruled Out for the Rest of the Season From Ankle, Wrist Surgeries

The Hornets released a statement confirming that Ball will undergo two surgeries.

Image Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

After a disappointing campaign in the 2024-25 season, the Charlotte Hornets received another setback. Their superstar LaMelo Ball is set to undergo two minor surgeries for his ankle and wrist injuries. The 14th-seeded Eastern Conference team released a statement confirming that Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery for a right ankle impingement, as well as a minor procedure on his right wrist, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

According to several media reports, Ball, Hornets’ leading scorer this season, played through pain in recent games. After consulting medical experts, the 2022 All-Star was advised to undergo procedures to ensure a full recovery and a productive offseason.

How Long Is LaMelo Ball Expected To Be Sidelined?

According to the official release, the surgeries will require Ball to end his season early. The announcement came before the Hornets suffered their 55th loss of the season, falling to the Raptors 108-97. After the procedures, Ball is expected to make a full recovery and complete a full offseason training regimen. He is projected to return to basketball activities within four to six weeks.

OFFICIAL: LaMelo Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery to address a right ankle impingement. He will also have a minor procedure on his right wrist. Ball is listed as out for tonight’s game vs TOR and will miss the remainder of the season.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 28, 2025

Notably, Ball has been facing issues with his ankle since the 2022-23 season when he suffered a fracture and underwent season-ending surgery. He has missed chunks of games since then, playing only 36 games in 2022-23, 22 in 2023-24, and 47 in 2024-25. He played 75 games in the 2021-22 season, which remains his highest since his debut in 2020-21.

Also Read: Hornet’s star LaMelo Ball headlines new NBA trade rumors

LaMelo Ball’s 2024-25 Season

Ball will finish the season with 47 games, with an average of 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds in more than 39 minutes. According to ESPN, he is the first Hornets player to average 25 points and seven assists in a season. Not only this, but he also had a franchise-record six games with 25 points and 10 assists.

In the ongoing season, he recorded his career-high performance with 50 points, five rebounds and 10 assists during a 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in November. With this, he became the third-youngest player in the league’s history to score 50 points.

Also Read: “This isn’t snub, it’s robbing”- NBA fans left in disbelief at LaMelo Ball’s snub from 2025 NBA All-Star Game

The 111-104 loss against the Hornets turned out to be his last game of the season where he finished with 25 points, one rebound and nine assists.

Charlotte Hornets

LaMelo Ball

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.