The Charlotte Hornets enter Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers searching for stability after dropping five of their last six games. What began as a promising 2–1 start has once again been derailed by injuries — a pattern that has plagued Charlotte in recent seasons.
The team’s latest injury report confirmed that star point guard LaMelo Ball has been ruled out due to a right ankle impingement, marking yet another setback in what has become an all-too-common storyline. Forward Miles Bridges is listed as questionable with back spasms, while guard Collin Sexton has been upgraded to active after missing Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat with a neck strain.
The absence of Ball continues a concerning trend for the organization. Now in his sixth NBA season, Ball has played more than 51 games only once — the 2021–22 campaign, in which he appeared in 75 contests and earned his lone All-Star selection. Aside from that season and his 51-game rookie year, Ball has struggled to remain consistently available, suiting up for just 56.3% of Charlotte’s games since being selected No. 3 overall in 2020.
Charlotte’s other franchise cornerstone, Brandon Miller, has faced similar availability concerns. Since Miller was drafted No. 2 overall in 2023, he and Ball have shared the court for only 41 out of a possible 173 games — a staggering 23.7% — severely limiting the franchise’s ability to build chemistry around its two young stars.
In Ball’s absence, the Hornets will again turn to rookie guard Kon Knueppel, who is coming off a career-high 30-point outing against Miami. Knueppel is expected to shoulder a significant offensive load, especially if Bridges is unable to play. The team hopes the rookie’s recent emergence can help steady the offense as they navigate yet another stretch without their primary playmakers.
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- Kon Knueppel scores career-high 30 in Hornets’ loss to Heat