LaMelo Ball Injury: Ex Warriors Star Supports LaVar Ball’s Accusations On Puma & NBA

Well, leave it to LaVar Ball to bring the NBA and giant footwear brands looking anywhere but at him. His most recent allegations are that the league and the shoes that his son LaMelo Ball wears are the reason for his injuries. He had no qualms about calling the training staff out for their apparent poor workouts that do not strengthen the players. But more importantly, he said that the ‘raggedy shoes’ are what led to Melo tweaking his ankle every time.

While many don’t pay much attention to Ball Sr. other than for entertainment purposes, ex-Warriors star Gilbert Arenas seems to take LaVar’s side this time.

Gilbert Arenas gives his two cents on LaVar Ball’s allegations

Joining NFL legend Shannon Sharpe in Nightcap, Arenas said, “I understand LaVar because the studies show that the more you resting the guys, the more they get hurt.” Gil further mentions that the “new doctors” think that resting more equals longevity. But not exercising for a week and then taking the floor, willing your muscles to perform like before, never works out.

He also talks about how shoes play a crucial role in a player’s game. Arenas points out that the most important part of the shoe for a guard is the heel. To keep the foot in place and to support the ankle, the heel has to be strong. Given how LaMelo Ball gets hurt frequently wearing Pumas, more specifically, MB. 01, as a signature collection, it doesn’t look good “structurally” for the brand. As far as the Gil’s Arena’s host is concerned, the shoes that offer the best ankle support are the Jordans.

But Jordans aren’t going to help LaMelo Ball any time soon considering his premature end to the regular season run.

Injury plagues LaMelo Ball’s season’s performance

LaMelo has been sidelined since January 26th on account of a right ankle tendinopathy. It was initially listed as soreness after he incurred an ankle injury in November. But it soon became serious enough to warrant a long rest with 20 games to start with and a regular season rule out more recently. The Charlotte Hornets superstar has been injury-addled since the beginning; a stretch from the 2022-23 season’s broken right ankle which kept him out after only 36 games.

Melo has only played for a combined 58 games from the 2022-23 to 2023-34 seasons. In the 22 games that the young guard played in the persisting campaign, he is averaging 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. The Hornets aren’t in a much better place without him either.

Charlotte is 11-43 without LaMelo Ball this season and 39-89 all-time. They currently sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-58 record and with the NBA All-Star ruled out for the rest of the season, the chances of the team look slim.

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