Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee remains optimistic despite the injuries that will sideline LaMelo Ball for the rest of the season.
The team announced Friday that Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle to address an impingement, along with a minor procedure on his right wrist.
His recovery timeline is estimated at four to six weeks before he can return to basketball activities.
Rather than dwelling on the setback, Lee framed it as an opportunity for Ball to reset and prepare for the future.
“Kind of like a blessing in disguise, or the good side of things, is that they are minor procedures with short timelines, so hopefully he’s got a great offseason,” Lee said.
He credited Ball’s work ethic and the team’s performance staff for their role in ensuring a strong recovery.
“It’s a testament to him already, and the performance staff, and everyone that works with him to make sure that he kind of attacks this offseason with the right mindset and approach to just keep getting better.”
Ball appeared in 47 games this season, his highest total since the 2021-22 campaign.
However, lingering ankle issues have hampered his availability, leading the Hornets to limit his participation in back-to-back games.
Despite the setbacks, Ball remains a cornerstone of the franchise, with four years remaining on his maximum-salary rookie extension, which is worth $168.7 million.
Lee praised Ball’s resilience and leadership, emphasizing the impact he has made despite his injuries.
“That type of player, I think that what he’s been able to accomplish this season, he set a tone as one of the leaders of our team, in terms of just trying to be available,” Lee said.
“He’s been battling through a ton, and the fact that he’s kind of had this warrior mentality to try to show up every night … Unfortunate to lose him. But I know he’s going to attack his rehab with a great mindset.”
Ball has played 5 seasons for the Hornets. He has averaged 21.0 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.0 rebounds in 231 regular-season games.
He was selected to play in 1 All-Star game and has won the Rookie of the Year award.
The Hornets coach hopes LaMelo Ball's surgeries will be a blessing in disguise: https://t.co/IE8sZqZye9
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 1, 2025
