LaMelo Ball is ruled out for the season in a major blow for the Hornets.

On Friday evening, the Charlotte Hornets received a massive blow to their season: the loss of star point guard LaMelo Ball. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Ball has been ruled out for the season to undergo a few minor surgeries.

“Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures to address ankle and wrist issues, sources tell ESPN.

Ball showed toughness, playing through pain in recent weeks, before he and the team consulted doctors on the best course forward,” wrote Shams. “Team doctors and outside specialists concluded that the two procedures will allow Ball to heal and have a full offseason.”

Ball, 23, was having a career year in Charlotte with averages of 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on 40.5% shooting. The former third overall pick has been leading the Hornets since 2020, but now he’s being shut down yet again to preserve his long-term health and durability.

On social media, many fans were saddened to hear the news. Not only did it sideline one of the East’s top point guards, but it could also compromise his growth and development as a player.

“Wishing Ball a speedy recovery,” wrote a concerned fan. “The young fella has surpassed the scoring record and star power that his older brother enjoyed while playing for the Lakers and the Bulls.”

Based on pure skill, LaMelo might be one of the best guards in the East, but he can never consistently stay healthy. Ball is as injury-prone as they come, and that’s really the case for the entire family.

“Dude, there’s no way he will be able to be a top 15 player in the league if he can’t stay healthy,” wrote one fan on X. “Poor guy.”

Unfortunately, even with LaMelo healthy, it’s unlikely the Hornets would have gone anywhere anyway with how they’ve been over the past 10+ years. Many believe it’s a culture problem in Charlotte.

“The franchise is broken. They need an identity and they need direction,” wrote one fan. “They don’t have a winning mentality and don’t seem to take the game as seriously as they should.”

The hope is that these upcoming surgeries will help lower LaMelo’s injury frequency and allow him to break the cycle of missing games every single year. Sadly for Ball, it seems health issues run in the family.

Melo’s older brother, Lonzo, was sidelined for years, dealing with nagging knee pain that nearly decimated his career. Lonzo is finally back on the court, but he hasn’t been the same since the 2021-22 season when he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 42.3% shooting.

There’s also the case with LaVar, LaMelo’s father. LaVar recently went viral for losing his foot due to complications from diabetes, and he was in the hospital for weeks trying to deal with the health crisis.

For LaMelo, his condition isn’t nearly as serious, but it’s just the latest in a long string of setbacks for the young point guard. He was supposed to be the guy to bring glory to the Charlotte Hornets and usher in a new age for the franchise.

Instead, LaMelo has been in and out of the lineup as the Hornets routinely finish with one of the worst records in the league. This year, it’s the same result, and there is a growing concern that this will be the story of his career.