NBA News: LaMelo Ball Finished for the Season

Injuries have been an ongoing problem for LaMelo Ball in his young NBA career, as he's played more than 51 games just once in his five seasons. He'll be cut short at 47 games this year, as the Charlotte Hornets have learned that Ball is finished for the season due to ankle and wrist surgeries.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist issues, sources tell ESPN. Ball showed toughness, playing through pain in recent weeks, before he and team consulted doctors on best course forward. pic.twitter.com/PrpWrjaXuW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 28, 2025

Per Shams Charania, Ball played through pain in recent weeks, but with the team once again playing for lottery balls rather than a playoff spot, the decision to shut him down was an easy one.

Ball's 47 games this year were his most in three years, but when he was on the floor, he was spectacular as usual, posting a career-high average of 25.2 points along with 7.4 assists.

Recent reports have Ball potentially asking out of Charlotte this summer, as the team hasn't played a single playoff game in his half-decade there (aside from a couple of blowout Play-In losses three and four years ago).

The Hornets have the third-worst record in the NBA this season (and therefore, as good a chance as anyone to win the draft lottery and nab presumed No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg).