The NBA was a little less fun.
LaMelo Ball – who is on the run with the Rookie of the Year award – could be left out for the rest of the season due to a wrist fracture suffered against the Clippers on Saturday, the team announced.
UPDATE: LaMelo Ball suffered a bone fracture in his right wrist. Ball, which will be evaluated later, will be listed as out indefinitely.
🔗: https://t.co/DcE36nrbLJ https://t.co/lD68vq9a3v
– Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 22, 2021
Earlier in the day, the Hornets had listed Ball as likely for Sunday night against the Spurs, however, an MRI revealed the fracture.
The fracture is in Ball’s thumb area, the source told ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 22, 2021
The Hornets need to be cautious with the franchise player and not run with him just to reach the end of the playoffs this season.
The injury occurred in the middle of the second quarter on Saturday, when LaMelo drove in the transition lane and fell awkwardly on his wrist (video above). Ball played the rest of the game, but strongly favored his left hand, as his wrist was clearly bothering him.
The average ball is 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season. Even more impressive, he had an impact on victory in Charlotte, a team that is among the seven seeded players in the East and with ambitions for unexpected playoffs – those that will take a hit without Ball on the court.
LaMelo instantly became one of the must-have players in the league – he has an “it” factor in his way of playing and feeling the game that makes everyone want to see him play. The NBA is not so much fun without it, and it can be without it for the rest of the season.