LaMelo Ball's All-Star Season Cut Short by Fractured Right Ankle

In a devastating blow to the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball, the team's star point guard and Kia Rookie of the Year for the 2020-21 season, will miss the remainder of the season due to a fractured right ankle. The injury occurred during Monday night's home win against the Detroit Pistons.

Ball had been playing exceptionally well this season, averaging 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. He was an All-Star in 2021-22 and has shown immense promise as a key player for the Hornets. However, his ankle troubles have been persistent, with Ball previously spraining his left ankle three times this season.

The injury occurred on Monday night when Ball fell down while attempting to make a move near half court. He hurt his right ankle and was forced to leave the game. Initial reports suggested that Ball had just tweaked something, but further evaluation revealed a fracture.

'We're certainly disappointed because he's a major part of our team and we felt like we were rounding the corner,' said Hornets veteran Gordon Hayward. The severity of the injury was not disclosed to the players until after the game.

The news is a significant blow to the Hornets, who had been showing signs of improvement in recent weeks. Ball has been an instrumental part of their success this season, and his absence will be deeply felt.

Despite the setback, Ball has shown remarkable resilience throughout the season. In his final game before the injury, he finished with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, marking his fifth consecutive game making at least five three-pointers.

With Ball ruled out for the remainder of the season, the Hornets will need to find alternative ways to compensate for his absence. However, they can take solace in the fact that Ball has a bright future ahead of him and will have plenty of time to recover from this setback before next season.

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