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 acquired to get stronger,” Lee acknowledged plainly when discussing offseason priorities for the 6-foot-7, 190-pound level guard. Lee famous that opposing groups usually deployed extra bodily defensive methods in opposition to Ball all through the season, utilizing hand checks on the perimeter and bodying him on drives to disrupt his effectiveness.
Ball’s defensive vulnerabilities had been additionally exploited as groups continuously focused him, attacking off the dribble and backing him down within the publish. Whereas Ball struggled with foul bother early within the season, Lee acknowledged enchancment in his defensive play because the yr progressed.
“Groups try to disclaim him, making an attempt to be bodily, and you’ll see early within the yr when groups did it, it undoubtedly bothered him,” Lee defined. “As he acquired used to it, he acquired much more comfy, so it is going to begin together with his physique. He is acquired to get stronger and extra conditioned to have the ability to play each side of the ball and maintain efforts… Whenever you’re the most effective gamers within the league, it’s important to be prepared for physicality.”
“I undoubtedly agree,” Ball mentioned. “Simply being within the weight room, and all the pieces they’re saying.”
Ball’s availability stays essentially 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 ft. 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 one of the best likelihood to win and get to the place we need to go, he needs to be on the ground.”
Peterson confirmed that Ball “completely” will probably be prepared for coaching camp following surgical procedures on his proper ankle and proper wrist.
Ball, represented by agent Sam Permut, stays underneath contract with the Hornets by way of the 2028-29 season after signing a five-year extension in 2023.
