The first two seasons of LaMelo Ball’s NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets have been as impressive as it can be for a young player making the jump to the professional leagues, especially considering the path he took to becoming an NBA player by playing overseas before being drafted in 2020.

Ball became an NBA star right from the start and provided much-needed hope for the future in Charlotte when he edged out Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves for NBA Rookie of the Year voting.

In his second season with the Hornets, Ball was named an NBA All-Star, an impressive feat for a player on a team notoriously struggling with young talent.

Unfortunately, Ball’s injuries began to pile up and his NBA career began to go in the wrong direction. The same thing happened to his older brother Lonzo Ball, who had struggled with significant injuries since joining the Chicago Bulls.

While Lonzo Ball has been dealing with knee issues, LaMelo Ball has been battling ankle problems, which has resulted in him only being able to play in 58 games over the past two seasons, but according to Evan Sidery of Forbes, he hopes to change that by wearing ankle braces next season.

LaMelo Ball plans to wear an ankle brace for the first time in his career next season.

Ball had originally planned to wear the shoes in the 2023/24 season, but was never comfortable with them before suffering another ankle injury that ended his season.

Charlotte has high hopes that Ball will stay… pic.twitter.com/62wmCUQaR7

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) 14 August 2024

If LaMelo Ball can find a way to stay healthy and productive in Charlotte going forward, the Hornets could have something going for them, as the team was able to sign another young star in Brandon Miller last season.

Miller and LaMelo Ball could become a dynamic one-two punch for the Hornets, meaning Charlotte could become a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference in the near future.

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Former Hornets player signs contract to play abroad