Hornets’ LaMelo Ball Suffers Ankle Fracture After Frightening Non-Contact Fall

The Charlotte guard is averaging career highs in points and assists per game.

A disappointing season for the Hornets went from bad to worse Monday night as one of the NBA's brightest young stars suffered what could be a season-ending injury.

Charlotte announced star guard LaMelo Ball suffered a fracture in his right ankle during the third quarter of the Hornets' 117–106 win over the Pistons, forcing him from the game after recording 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. With Charlotte sitting on a 72–54 lead, Ball fell awkwardly without being touched while handling the ball.

The 21-year-old Ball has averaged 23.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.5 assists across 35 games this season, his third in the NBA. His per-game averages for points and assists are both career highs.

LaMelo Ball headed back to the locker room after awkwardly falling on this play. pic.twitter.com/wirzYaHCZN

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 28, 2023

This is the second major injury of Ball's brief NBA career, following a wrist fracture as a rookie in March 2021.

Ball was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2021 and was selected as an Eastern Conference All-Star in 2022. He has ranked in the top 20 in assists per game and the top 10 in steals per game in each of his first two seasons.

The Hornets currently sit at 20–43, 9 1/2 games behind the Wizards for the Eastern Conference's final play-in spot.