Why is LaMelo Ball not playing against 76ers? Latest injury update for Hornets' All-Star guard (Dec. 20)

The Charlotte Hornets will be without their star player, LaMelo Ball, as they face the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night. The point guard has been ruled out by the coaching staff due to injury management.

Ball has been dealing with a calf issue that will keep him sidelined for this matchup. The player is in his fifth NBA season with the Hornets, showing a much better version of his game. However, injuries keep bothering and preventing him from leading his team to get more wins.

LaMelo Ball is coming off another strong performance against the Washington Wizards, but the Hornets were unable to beat the capital team, losing their ninth game of the last 10.

Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer added that Mark Williams (injury management) and Brandon Miller (ankle) wouldn't be available for this matchup. The Hornets succumbed 123-114 to the Wizards after a poor night from deep. Ball scored 34 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished a season-high 13 assists, to go along with four steals. He shot 11-for-32 from the field and a subpar 3-from-18 from beyond the arc.

He hasn't been the most efficient scorer in the last 10 games, averaging 31.4 ppg, 8.7 apg, 5.7 rpg and 1.3 spg in 34 minutes per outing.

Kevin Garnett detailed LaMelo Ball's biggest trait amid remarkable season

Even though injuries have been ruthless with LaMelo Ball during his five-year NBA career, the player has shown glimpses of his brilliance. Aside from his scoring performances, the guard has shocked fans with his electric playing. Kevin Garnett talked about Melo's skillset, noting how different he is at the end of November.

“LaMelo got a different bag, dog,” Garnett said. “And he’s playing with a different confidence. I hope the league blesses him with an All-Star. He is a must-watch TV. I think he’s great when you put him around a bunch of other young guys.

“He’s fun to watch, he’s the wave in this direction that we going with, he’s part of that wave. I like watching him play. I like watching the young Hornets.”

Ball has been to the All-Star Game once in his career, but he has struggled to make it back to the big game. The Hornets star led the team to compete in the first two months of the competition, but if injuries don't stop bothering him, Ball would stay inactive for an extended period.