The slow crumble of greatness! It is the phrase that comes to my mind when thinking about the Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo Ball returned to the floor this season after recovering from a season-ending surgery. Initially, it seemed like the team had finally struck a chord with their franchise superstar getting into consistent action. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Gradually, the Buzz City returned to the same spot where inconsistency ruled, as Ball’s injury began to infest the team.

Once again, it’s the ankle. Ahead of tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, the team had listed the guard in the questionable category, citing right ankle soreness.

He already sat out the last game against the Warriors due to the same lingering ankle issue. Fans were hoping he’d be back on the court tonight, but instead, the team made it official—he’s out once again. The update comes via NBA reporter Grant Afseth, confirming that the injury setback is keeping him sidelined longer than expected.

Taking on the wounded Mavericks, the Hornets are undoubtedly short-handed without their ace shooter. Kyrie Irving & Co. is especially coming off the dramatic loss against the Lakers in Luka Doncic’s revenge game. So, riding on emotions, the Texas side would look to regain their confidence with a dominating performance.

Riding a four-game losing streak, LaMelo Ball’s squad is coming off a blowout loss to the Warriors—and let’s be honest, they probably wouldn’t mind skipping this one altogether.

But here’s the thing—they can’t be counted out. With Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, and Seth Curry in the mix, the Hornets have the pieces to attack the paint—a major advantage considering the Mavs are missing all their big men (AD, Gafford, and Lively).

That’s tonight’s battle. But looking beyond this game… should Charlotte be worried about LaMelo Ball’s future with the team? Let’s dive in.

LaMelo Ball and the cursed ankles

Since his 75-game outing in his sophomore year, LaMelo Ball hasn’t crossed the 36-game mark in his career. The reason behind this inconsistent run is his ankle issues. It’s something that has been bothering him for a long time. It started as a left ankle sprain in October 2022, leaving him to miss the initial few games. A few months later, Ball fractured his right ankle, sidelining him for the rest of the season.

In the previous season, Melo had an on-and-off run, playing only 22 games. So, the team had to step in and rule him out for the rest of the season to focus on rehabilitation. The star went through a surgical procedure and returned this season and once again found himself in the mess.

Currently, the Hornets are in the 14th seed with a losing record. While there’s no chance of recovery at this point, the team has to look into the future. Importantly, there’s a blessing in disguise. The team is so close to drafting Cooper Flagg. So, there’s speculation that the team had deliberately sidelined Ball so that the team could lock in the chances for the college sensation.

Even if the team manages to rope in Flagg, where will Ball’s future with the team stand considering his recurring injuries? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.