Charles Lee delivered a transparent mandate to Charlotte Hornets’ franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball throughout Monday’s exit interviews, emphasizing the necessity for bodily improvement heading into subsequent season.
“He is bought to get stronger,” Lee said plainly when discussing offseason priorities for the 6-foot-7, 190-pound level guard. Lee famous that opposing groups frequently deployed extra bodily defensive methods towards Ball all through the season, utilizing hand checks on the perimeter and bodying him on drives to disrupt his effectiveness.
Ball’s defensive vulnerabilities have been additionally exploited as groups often focused him, attacking off the dribble and backing him down within the submit. Whereas Ball struggled with foul hassle early within the season, Lee acknowledged enchancment in his defensive play because the 12 months progressed.
“Groups try to disclaim him, making an attempt to be bodily, and you may see early within the 12 months when groups did it, it positively bothered him,” Lee defined. “As he bought used to it, he bought much more comfy, so it will begin along with his physique. He is bought to get stronger and extra conditioned to have the ability to play each side of the ball and maintain efforts… Once you’re top-of-the-line gamers within the league, it’s a must to be prepared for physicality.”
“I positively agree,” Ball stated. “Simply being within the weight room, and every little thing they’re saying.”
Ball’s availability stays probably the most urgent concern for Charlotte. Regardless of averaging a career-high 25.2 factors this season together with 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds, Ball has participated in simply 56% of the franchise’s 410 video games over his 5 NBA seasons attributable to persistent accidents, primarily involving his ankles and toes. His final three seasons have all concluded with surgical procedures.
Hornets basic supervisor Jeff Peterson characterised Ball’s 47 video games performed this season as progress in comparison with the 36 and 22 appearances within the two earlier campaigns. “Is it the place we would like it to be? No. Is it the place he desires it to be? No,” Peterson acknowledged. “LaMelo is an unimaginable competitor, and he is aware of that to ensure that us to have the perfect likelihood to win and get to the place we wish to go, he needs to be on the ground.”
Peterson confirmed that Ball “completely” shall be prepared for coaching camp following surgical procedures on his proper ankle and proper wrist.
Ball, represented by agent Sam Permut, stays below contract with the Hornets by means of the 2028-29 season after signing a five-year extension in 2023.
