With NBA Youngboy’s ‘F–k Da Industry’ playing in the background and his Instagram story filled with devil emojis, LaMelo Ball sent a cryptic message to the world after he got snubbed from All-Star selection yet again. Well, everyone expected him to be in revenge mode tonight as he stepped on the court against the Nets. However, things took an unfortunate turn when the superstar guard was forced to leave the game midway due to a scary injury.

After logging in ten minutes as a starter, Melo was mysteriously subbed out. Adding to the concerns, it was later reported that he would not return for the remainder of the game. The reason? A right ankle soreness. With that call, his night ended early, finishing with only 5 points and three assists.

While the exact moment he got injured remains unknown, there was a play early in the game where LaMelo looked in serious pain after an awkward drive to the basket. Hopefully, its nothing serious because Melo just made his return last Friday against the Spurs after a week-long hiatus due to a similar issue.

Well, that time it was his other ankle that caused problems. The incident occurred during the Lakers game in late January when Melo unfortunately tweaked his left ankle by accidentally stepping on Jarred Vanderbilt’s foot while backpedalling after a made three-pointer. He had still not fully recovered from that injury as he missed Saturday’s back-to-back encounter against the Pistons. And tonight’s injury could force Melo to miss more games going forward. But is this just terrible luck for LaMelo or a concerning issue?

LaMelo Ball’s Injury Prone nature strikes again amid All-Star Snub

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Melo’s ankles have let him down. They have been a major point of concern since his career began. Two years ago, his season was cut short after a fracture in his right ankle. Even last season, he could only play 22 games because of another ankle setback. And this year seems to be heading the same direction. Notice a pattern? As skilled as LaMelo is, his injury prone nature might be stopping him from reaching the next level and turning into a perennial All-Star.

Maybe, that was one of the reasons he got snubbed this year. Despite averaging 28 points and over seven assists while also being the highest fan voted East guard, LaMelo failed to win over players and media. Obviously, the Hornets’ abysmal record also had a part to play in it. Even after a spot opened up following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury, Trae Young booked his place in the All-Star team before LaMelo. Well, that could continue to be his fate going forward if he cannot avoid frequent injuries and lead the Hornets to more wins. So, as he recovers from tonight’s setback, it might be time for Melo to reflect on how his career has gone so far and figure out what he can do to avoid such incidents in the future.