North Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets face the offseason with some certainty amidst the usual questions, particularly regarding the promising duo of LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams. Despite an injury-riddled 2023-24 season, their time on the court together showed potential for the team's future.

Ball and Williams appeared in only 41 games together due to injuries, with encouraging results when both were fit. They started the season strong but faced setbacks with Ball's right ankle sprain and Williams' lower back injury, which ended his season early.

Ball struggled with his ankle, having rehabbed it during the previous summer. He played 14 games at a high level before being sidelined again in March. "My favorite thing to do is play basketball, so not being able to do that is obviously horrible," Ball said during exit interviews.

Williams also spent significant time recovering from a thumb ligament surgery. His performance included a double-double average over 18 games before a back issue forced him out. "I’m totally going to be okay," he stated, focusing on rebuilding strength.

Despite injuries affecting team dynamics, Charlotte's performance with Ball and Williams was notable in various metrics like paint points and rebounding percentages. Their absence impacted these areas significantly.

The Hornets saw glimpses of effective lineup combinations involving Ball and Williams alongside rookie Brandon Miller and Gordon Hayward. However, limited shared minutes hindered chemistry development between Ball and Williams.

Overall, injuries to key players including Ball and Williams had a substantial impact on Charlotte's season performance. The team hopes to see them healthy next year as they aim to capitalize on their talents.