NBA News Today: LaMelo Ball re-injures ankle vs Rockets, James Harden throws shade at Brooklyn Nets when asked about best career teams, and more
Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball suffered another ankle injury on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets.
In other news, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard James Harden threw some subtle shade at his former team, the Brooklyn Nets, during a recent interview.
On that note, here is the latest news from around the NBA as of Jan. 19, 2023.
LaMelo Ball re-injures ankle versus Houston
LaMelo Ball had to be helped to the locker room during the Charlotte Hornets’ 122-117 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night. This came after teammate P.J. Washington landed on Ball’s left ankle while trying to contest a shot early in the third quarter.
Ball was then ruled out for the rest of the game with a left ankle sprain. He finished with 13 points and four assists.
INJURY UPDATE: @hornets guard LaMelo Ball left tonight’s game at HOU in the 3Q with a left ankle sprain. He will be out for the remainder of the game.
Following the game, the All-Star point guard indicated that he didn’t think the injury was serious.
“I can walk and everything, so I’ll just take it day by day and see what it is,” Ball said.
“It (doesn’t) feel like them other ones so I think I’ll be straight.”
The injury marks the third time that Ball has injured his left ankle this season.
He missed the first 13 games of the season after spraining it the first time before missing 11 more games following his second ankle injury. In total, Ball has appeared in just 22 games this season.
The Charlotte Hornets star has averaged 23.5 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 4.0 3-pointers per game on 40.9% shooting.
Following their win, the Hornets are still just 12-34 and 14th in the Eastern Conference. They may opt to once again be cautious with the star guard.
James Harden throws shade at Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets’ former big three of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were expected to contend for titles for many years. However, the trio never panned out as they struggled with health and chemistry issues.
Harden ended up getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through last season after playing just 80 total games in two seasons in Brooklyn. All of this led him to throw some subtle shade at the Nets during a recent interview with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Shelburne asked Harden where the Sixers rank among the best teams he has played for in his career. He went on to mention his former OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets teams while omitting the Nets entirely. He then explained that the current Sixers team represents his best chance of winning a title.
"Top, for sure," Harden said.
"We had some really good teams in Oklahoma City, then that '18 team in Houston. But this team is definitely the best chance I've had to win."
The Sixers are 28-16 and third in the Eastern Conference. They just recently surpassed Brooklyn (27-16) following the Nets’ three-game losing streak in the absence of Durant, who is out with a sprained right MCL.
Luka Doncic reportedly wants Mavericks to upgrade roster before trade deadline; Mark Cuban denies report
Luka Doncic has been carrying the Dallas Mavericks this season.
The Mavericks currently hold a 24-22 record and are fifth in the Western Conference despite having a fairly underwhelming roster by most accounts. Doncic leads the league in scoring at 33.7 points per game.
However, the team may be over-reliant on the superstar guard as they are now 0-5 without him this season. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Doncic is urging the Mavs’ front office to upgrade the team’s roster before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
“Sources said Doncic, who hasn’t shown a desire to be involved in personnel matters in the past, has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the Feb. 9 trade deadline,” MacMahon reported.
However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has since denied the report.
“Tim MacMahon got it dead wrong. Luka has never suggested, asked, demanded or discussed changes to the roster,” Cuban responded.
Mark Cuban denies that Luka Doncic has indicated he wants the roster to be upgraded before the trade deadline.
Cuban: “Tim MacMahon got it dead wrong. Luka has never suggested, asked, demanded or discussed changes to the roster.” twitter.com/espn_macmahon/…
“Luka and (Mavs GM) Nico (Harrison) have a great relationship. They talk almost daily. Luka knows exactly what we have going on and is very supportive,” Cuban continued.
Mark Cuban (cont.): “Luka and Nico have a great relationship. They talk almost daily. Luka knows exactly what we have going on and is very supportive.” twitter.com/espn_macmahon/…
Whether Luka Doncic is putting pressure on the Mavs’ front office to make a move or not, most would agree that the team needs reinforcements. Doncic is playing at an all-time level, so most fans would like to see Dallas go all-in on building the optimal team around him.
However, with limited trade assets available, it remains to be seen if the Mavericks will be able to make any significant upgrades by the deadline.
Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t want to include Walker Kessler in Rudy Gobert trade
Rookie big man Walker Kessler has been dominating for the Utah Jazz as of late.
The No. 22 pick recently had arguably his best game of the season versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Kessler recorded 20 points, 21 rebounds, four assists and two blocks on 69.2% shooting.
The Timberwolves notably traded Kessler away shortly after drafting him as part of their blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert. However, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Minnesota was initially reluctant to do so.
“The Wolves didn’t want to include him in the trade to Utah, and the Jazz lobbied for him to be in the deal,” Jones said.
“Minnesota, even knowing it would trade for Gobert, had high hopes for Kessler.”
Kessler is averaging 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game on 71.5% shooting in 19.9 minutes per game this season. He has shown elite defensive instincts for a rookie and is one of the key reasons the Jazz have been competitive this season.
Utah currently holds a 24-24 slate and is seventh in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Minnesota, who went all in on trying to improve upon their 46-win season last year, now sit at 22-24 and 10th in the West.
As things stand, most feel that the Gobert trade has looked like a colossal mistake for Minnesota.
Kevin Durant and Stan Van Gundy engage in hilarious Twitter exchange
Injuries to star players have been racking up this season. This has been the case despite many players taking extra rest days and extra time during rehab when they sustain injuries.
NBA coach-turned-TNT commentator Stan Van Gundy recently voiced his opinion on the matter via Twitter.
“90’s NBA teams had just a trainer and a strength coach, they practiced more often and harder and played more back-to-backs,” Van Gundy said.
“Teams now have huge medical & 'performance' staffs and value rest over practice. Yet injuries and games missed are way up. Something’s not working!”
90’s NBA teams had just a trainer and a strength coach, they practiced more often and harder and played more back to backs. Teams now have huge medical & “performance” staffs and value rest over practice. Yet injuries and games missed are way up. Something’s not working!
Kevin Durant then agreed with Van Gundy’s opinion in a reply to his Tweet. However, the 63-year-old Van Gundy did not understand the lingo that the Nets star was using, which led to an entertaining exchange between the two.
“Stan spittin…,” Durant said.
@realStanVG Stan spittin…
“No. I’m not criticizing players. I’m saying that we are getting something wrong in how we prepare and train players. We can’t do anything about injuries like yours, he fell on your leg. But all of these groin, hamstring injuries etc. shouldn’t be happening as much as they are,” Van Gundy replied.
@KDTrey5 No. I’m not criticizing players. I’m saying that we are getting something wrong in how we prepare and train players. We can’t do anything about injuries like yours, he fell on your leg. But all of these groin, hamstring injuries etc. shouldn’t be happening as much as they are.
“Stan, I agree with u lol,” Durant joked.
@realStanVG Stan, I agree with u lol
“This one went over my head,” Van Gundy joked back.
@SoumaMooncrest @KDTrey5 This one went over my head
Durant, currently recovering from a MCL sprain, has missed each of the Brooklyn Nets' last three games. Brooklyn has suffered defeats in all of those games and currently hold a 27-16 record.