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Hornets Call LaMelo Ball’s One-Game Benching a Minutes Plan as Perkins Alleges Rift

Ball returned to the starting lineup after one game under a workload plan tied to ankle troubles.

Overview

  • Coach Charles Lee said Ball agreed to come off the bench against the Pacers to optimize limited minutes during his injury return.
  • LaMelo Ball resumed his starting role the next game against the Jazz, signaling the bench move was short-lived.
  • Kendrick Perkins claimed, citing unnamed sources, that Ball cursed at Lee and that the two are not aligned, but those allegations remain unverified.
  • Ball is logging a career-low 27.8 minutes per game this season as Charlotte manages his availability following recurring ankle issues.
  • Perkins suggested the team may face a choice between trading Ball or moving on from Lee, though broader personnel decisions remain speculative.