Charles Lee delivered a clear mandate to Charlotte Hornets' franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball during Monday's exit interviews, emphasizing the need for physical development heading into next season.
"He's got to get stronger," Lee stated plainly when discussing offseason priorities for the 6-foot-7, 190-pound point guard. Lee noted that opposing teams regularly deployed more physical defensive strategies against Ball throughout the season, using hand checks on the perimeter and bodying him on drives to disrupt his effectiveness.
Ball's defensive vulnerabilities were also exploited as teams frequently targeted him, attacking off the dribble and backing him down in the post. While Ball struggled with foul trouble early in the season, Lee acknowledged improvement in his defensive play as the year progressed.
"Teams are trying to deny him, trying to be physical, and you can see early in the year when teams did it, it definitely bothered him," Lee explained. "As he got used to it, he got a lot more comfortable, so it's going to start with his body. He's got to get stronger and more conditioned to be able to play both sides of the ball and sustain efforts... When you're one of the best players in the league, you have to be ready for physicality."
"I definitely agree," Ball said. "Just being in the weight room, and everything they're saying."
Ball's availability remains the most pressing concern for Charlotte. Despite averaging a career-high 25.2 points this season along with 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds, Ball has participated in just 56% of the franchise's 410 games over his five NBA seasons due to persistent injuries, primarily involving his ankles and feet. His last three seasons have all concluded with surgical procedures.
Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson characterized Ball's 47 games played this season as progress compared to the 36 and 22 appearances in the two previous campaigns. "Is it where we want it to be? No. Is it where he wants it to be? No," Peterson acknowledged. "LaMelo is an incredible competitor, and he knows that in order for us to have the best chance to win and get to where we want to go, he has to be on the floor."
Peterson confirmed that Ball "absolutely" will be ready for training camp following surgeries on his right ankle and right wrist.
Ball, represented by agent Sam Permut, remains under contract with the Hornets through the 2028-29 season after signing a five-year extension in 2023.
Via Associated Press
