LaMelo Ball Out for Hornets’ 2024 NBA Cup Recreation vs. Knicks with Calf Harm

The Charlotte Hornets will probably be shorthanded for Friday’s NBA Cup recreation in opposition to the New York Knicks.

Charlotte introduced LaMelo Ball will probably be sidelined due to left calf soreness, making him one in every of plenty of gamers who is not going to take the courtroom:

It stays to be seen precisely how lengthy Ball will probably be out, because the Hornets additionally announced he suffered the harm late throughout Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Warmth and will probably be evaluated with additional updates to return within the close to future.

It is certainly not what Charlotte desires to listen to, because the group is simply 4-10 within the final 14 video games and has appeared like one of many worst within the league within the early going of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Ball has been a vibrant spot, although, and is averaging 31.1 factors, 6.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 43 % from the sphere and 35.6 % from deep. His profession excessive for scoring in a season is 23.9 factors per recreation, so he has been far more practical as a scorer this season.

Even when this finally ends up being a misplaced season for the Hornets as an entire, it is vital that the 23-year-old Ball continues growing as a franchise cornerstone. He’s their finest guess to turn into aggressive within the Jap Convention within the close to future, and the early returns this season have been nothing however constructive.

Nonetheless, Charlotte might want to discover a approach to replicate his manufacturing in opposition to the Knicks.

Search for Vasilije Micic and Nick Smith Jr. to see extra enjoying time whereas Ball is sidelined.