Hornets' Ball cleared for basketball activities

LaMelo Ball's rookie season isn't over after all.

The Charlotte Hornets phenom has been cleared for individual basketball activities after a CT scan confirmed his fractured right wrist has healed, the team announced Monday.

There's optimism Ball could return to the lineup in 7-10 days, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ball suffered the wrist injury just less than a month ago versus the Los Angeles Clippers. The 6-foot-6 guard was reportedly expected to miss the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign but sought a second opinion on his diagnosis.

Charlotte drafted Ball third overall in last year's draft. The California native hasn't disappointed in his debut campaign, averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 boards, and 1.6 steals over 41 appearances in 2020-21.

He has won three Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards and is the only player in the last 60 seasons to lead all rookies in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals at the All-Star break.

Ball took his game to another level as a starter, posting 19.5 points per game on 46.4% shooting - including a 42.6% clip from deep - over 21 appearances in Charlotte's starting five.

The Hornets sit eighth in the East and have gone 8-7 during Ball's absence.