LaMelo Ball is dealing with an injury at the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.
In Charlotte’s penultimate preseason game, Ball sprained his ankle on a drive to the basket and did not return after leaving the contest. It was later reported that he was expected to “miss time” to start the season.
After winning Rookie of the Year in 2020-21, Ball earned the first All-Star selection of his career in 2021-22. Still only 21 years old, he’s one of the NBA’s best young stars.
What’s next for Ball? Here’s everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he may return to the court.
MORE: Ranking top 30 players heading into 2022-23 NBA season
What is LaMelo Ball’s injury?
Ball sprained his left ankle on a drive to the basket in Charlotte’s preseason matchup with Washington on Oct. 10. After shooting two free throws, he left the game and did not return.
“With Melo, fingers crossed here that it’s not something serious,” Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said postgame.
Here is a video of Ball’s injury:
LaMelo Ball exited the game vs. Wizards with a left ankle sprain pic.twitter.com/luBqiWA0tk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2022
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the next day that Ball had been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain.
The Hornets selected Ball with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He enters his third season with career averages of 18.3 points, 7.0 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game.
How long will LaMelo Ball be out?
Clifford said it’s “highly doubtful” that Ball will play in Charlotte’s season opener against San Antonio on Oct. 19.
After their matchup with the Spurs, the Hornets return home for a meeting with the Pelicans. They will then embark on a three-game road trip that will see them face the Hawks, Knicks and Magic.
According to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, the average time lost with a Grade 2 ankle sprain is seven games or 19 days.
LaMelo Ball fantasy basketball impact
In our preseason top 200 player rankings, SN’s Kyle Irving ranked Ball the 11th overall player and fourth among point guards behind only Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry and Trae Young. Clearly, Ball is set up for a monster season at least in terms of fantasy production given the departure of Miles Bridges and the relative lack of other clear options in Charlotte.
Last season, Ball ranked 11th in average points according to Yahoo! Fantasy.
Depending on the severity of Ball’s injury, owners should think twice about drafting Ball at the end of the first round. Given Charlotte’s projected record and the jockeying for draft position in a loaded 2023 draft class, he is also a candidate to get shelved early.
While Ball certainly has some serious fantasy upside, he suddenly becomes one of fantasy’s riskiest propositions in 2022-23.
LaMelo Ball career stats, highlights
- 18.3 points per game
- 7.0 assists per game
- 6.4 rebounds per game
- 1.6 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 3.1 turnovers per game
- 30.9 minutes per game
- 43.1 percent field goal shooting
- 37.8 percent 3-point shooting
- 82.6 percent free throw shooting
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