Hornets’ LaMelo Ball anticipates being ready for training camp

CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) — Charlotte Hornets pointguard LaMelo Ball said he anticipates being ready for training campin September after suffering through an injury-plagued 2022-23season in which he sprained his left ankle three times andfractured his right ankle, all of which limited him to 36games.

Whether he’ll consider wearing ankle braces moving forwardremains to be seen.

“It’s tough,” Ball said Monday. “I mean probably annoying justgoing through it, but I’m still alive and stuff like that, so youcan’t really be too mad. Just go through the rehab, do that wholeprocess and try to come out on top.”

Ball, wearing a walking boot on his right foot and leaning oncrutches, spoke to reporters for the first time since undergoingseason-ending surgery on his broken right ankle on March 1.

The Hornets had playoff expectations this season, but MilesBridges’ legal troubles over the summer and a series of injuries tokey players like Ball, Gordon Hayward, Cody Martin and Kelly OubreJr. wrecked the team’s season.

When on the court, Ball showed he was ready to take the nextstep in his progression after reaching the All-Star game lastseason.

He averaged career highs in points (23.3) and assists (8.3) pergame while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range, becoming thesecond-youngest player to record 1,000 points, assists and reboundsin NBA history behind only LeBron James.NBA

The Hornets (22-50) currently have the fourth-worst record inthe league heading into Monday night’s game against Indiana, andhave already been eliminated from playoff contention.

It marks the seventh-straight year Charlotte will miss thepostseason.

“Well we didn’t make no playoffs and so whether I played 36games, 25 or 50, it doesn’t really matter,” Ball said. “The factthat we didn’t make it... I mean, it’s just kind of getting readyfor the next season now.”

The 21-year-old Ball didn’t discuss the details of his rehabschedule, saying he’s not sure when he’ll be allowed to walkwithout crutches or begin running or jumping.

The repeated injuries to his ankles, which actually began inOctober when he stepped on Anthony Gill’s foot in a preseason gameagainst the Washington Wizards, has raised questions over whetherBall should wear ankle braces.

Like many NBA players, Ball wears low tops and no anklebraces.

“I haven’t really looked into that yet,” Ball said when asked ifhe’s considering ankle braces. “I gotta see how I feel first when Icome back. Then I will make a decision.”

Ball, who has relatively thin legs, said he wants to build moreoverall strength in his ankles this offseason and make sure they’refully healed, including the bones that have been repaired when hecame down wrong on his foot during a non-contact play on Feb.27.

“I hate milk for real but my pops always had me drinking it —cookies and milk every night,” he said with a laugh.

Ball, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft, has yet to makethe postseason with the Hornets, but added he still likes playingfor the franchise.

“Wherever I’m at I feel like I’m straight, I feel like I’mgood,” Ball said. “I love it here.”