Timberwolves President Holds High Expectations for LaMelo Ball’s Availability Despite Injury Concerns

Despite former Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball never having played a full season, Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly believes Ball can remain healthy for most of 2026. Despite a past marred by injuries, Connelly is confident in Ball's ability.

After Ball was transferred to the Minnesota Timberwolves in June 2026, he had already been familiarizing himself with the team. Ball began practicing with the Timberwolves in early July, eager to prove himself in Minnesota. Connelly recently laid out his expectations for his new star point guard in a humorous exchange per a post by WCNC Charlotte's Nick Carboni.

"It's been these random wonky injuries, right? You'll play more than 72 (games) for sure, right?"

"Hopefully," Ball hilariously responded in the X post.

Looking at Ball's six years in the NBA, the most games he's played in his career were in his first All-Star year, when he played 75 games in 2021. The least amount of games he's played in a season was 22 back in 2023. If you sum up all six seasons, Ball has only averaged playing in 50.5 games.

But Connelly is betting on Ball and Anthony Edwards, who has remained with the team since they drafted him back in 2020, to carry the Timberwolves.

"I think these guys have just got a lot of innings under their belt, and they know what it looks like. They’re veteran basketball players, but still very young relative to their age. So, I think it’s kind of a sweet spot to see we have all these guys together and they grow together."

Despite a career average of 20.8 ppg and 7.3 apg, LaMelo Ball has run into ankle injuries across his career. In 2022, he sprained his right ankle. The following year, he fractured his right ankle. Intending to rest his right ankle, he ended up tweaking his left ankle multiple times throughout the 2023-24 season, forcing him to sit out the majority of the campaign.

It will be interesting to see if a lesser workload in terms of carrying a team would also lessen the stress on LaMelo's body now that he can rely on other guys like Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert.

While Hornets fans were sad to see LaMelo Ball go, Wolves fans are now looking forward to the upcoming tandem between him and ANT.

LaMelo Ball is ready for Minnesota

Ball and Timberwolves president Tim Connelly linked up on Tuesday afternoon for a press conference. The presser was about what the future holds between Ball and the Timberwolves.

"I'm just coming here, ready to play," Ball said. "I'm here to learn and just give it my all."

Ball then shared that he's already been in touch with his new All-Star partner, Edwards. Many were concerned that the spotlight might be too big for the two young stars. But it seems like Ball and Edwards are ready to show what they can do together.

"Yeah, I mean, I've known Ant for a minute," Ball said. "We've been talking. Everybody is excited. We're ready to get to work."

His enthusiasm to already familiarize himself with the new culture and team dynamics sounds reassuring to Timberwolves fans. For now, all we can do is wait and see how the new duo of LaMelo Ball and Edwards will turn out.