In his short NBA career, LaMelo Ball has already seen a lot of twists and turns. Coming back from a horrific wrist injury last season the 2021 Rookie of the Year made his first All-Star appearance. And after already missing 27 games this season because of his left ankle, he has now fractured his right ankle.
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In their Monday night game against the Pistons the 14th placed team in the East, the Charlotte Hornets lost its point guard yet again to an ankle injury. But what is more concerning is this is his other ankle.
LaMelo had missed 13 and then 11 consecutive games because he sprained his left ankle early in the season. And now he has “popped” the other one. He literally heard the pop when it happened.
😔😔😔😔 (per @ChrisBHaynes) pic.twitter.com/ckUyUeZjl8
— Overtime (@overtime) February 28, 2023
LaMelo Ball heard his ankle pop as it fractured
In the third quarter of the last night’s encounter between the Hornets and the Pistons, the 2022 All-Star was right in the midst of a crossover dribble when he fell on the court without any contact from the defender and immediately left the game.
It was at that moment when Ball said to the medical staff he heard it pop.
“I heard it pop, I heard it pop” is the same thing LeBron said yesterday that will sideline him for at least a few weeks
Let’s see if LaMelo is sidelined for a period of time as well
He very well could be w/ Hornets tanking, which means…Dennis Smith Jr.pic.twitter.com/MhKvAcIGUA
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) February 28, 2023
This comes just a day after LeBron James said he heard something in his ankle pop, and NBA fans are sad about it.
— CJStayFitted21 (@cjstayfitted21) February 28, 2023
Absolutely heartbreaking
— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7) February 28, 2023
What a bummer for the Ball fam!
Lonzo having fought time recovering from his knee issues… and, now Lamelo with a fractured ankle.
The ONE silver lining for the Hornets: they might end up with the #1 NBA draft pick in the Wemby sweepstakes. https://t.co/EQLaT7VkdB
— Jason | ••• — (@37cycles) February 28, 2023
I thought it was an Achilles injury. Bro caught a break on that 1
— K.J (@kjking223_) February 28, 2023
An expert’s opinion.
For Lamelo, the only thing that caught my eye was actually the step before the final plant. He lands on the inner part of his foot and does have some eversion of the ankle, potentially leading to an avulsion fracture of the medial mallelous as one possibility pic.twitter.com/9cWlaLTa7O
— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) February 28, 2023
Ball brothers just couldn’t keep themselves away from injuries
Since LaMelo came into the league, we were seeing Lonzo Ball take his game up some notches and become one of the best two-way point guards in the league after he joined the Bulls.
But much like his brother, Lonzo also could not keep himself away from the injuries and has probably the rarest of issues in his knee that would be keeping him out of the game for more than a season and a half.
REPORT: Lonzo Ball has seen doctors all over the country for his knee and describe it as a “unique injury that they have never seen before.”
😳😳😳
(h/t @ChiSportUpdates) pic.twitter.com/sx6eWC2njJ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 22, 2023
Let’s hope we see them both as their best versions next season.
