Although his numbers, including 5.8 points per game on .359/.318/.750, don’t look especially strong, Ball is once again making the sorts of winning plays that don’t show up in the box score. Chicago has a +6.9 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to a -5.0 mark when he’s not.
The No. 21 overall pick of last June’s draft, Missi has been one of the few consistent bright spots amid an injury-plagued season in New Orleans. The 20-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game across his “Never give up, never give in,” he said. “… It’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be days where you play bad, you don’t want to be there or your body hurts, or whatever. But I think [the key is] showing up and attacking each and every day that you have … taking full advantage of [opportunities] whether you’re playing or not. Being engaged, being there and embracing and learning everything that’s going on around you so that you can use it, in your own career, your own journey, wherever it may be.”
There’s more from Washington, D.C.:
- Kyle Kuzma returned Monday after being sidelined for more than a month with a broken rib, Shankar states in a separate story. The veteran forward came off the bench for the first time since he joined the Wizards in 2021, contributing nine points on 4-of-9 shooting in 21 minutes. “Blessed to be able to get back on the court. It’s been a long month. Put a lot of work in to get back early. Typically my injury was a six-to-eight-[week] thing, breaking a rib,” said Kuzma, who added that he had difficulty breathing for a couple of days.
- Rookie guard Bub Carrington left Monday’s game in a wheelchair after his head struck another player’s knee, Shankar adds. He was ruled out with “post-traumatic headaches,” but Shankar says he was able to walk around the locker room after the game and talk with coaches and teammates. He is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
- After struggling with his shot during Summer League and the early part of his rookie season, Alex Sarr has seemingly found a solution, according to Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports. Over his last 13 games, he’s connecting at 45.9% from the field and 43.1% from three-point range while taking five shots per night from beyond the arc. “[Alex] was taking good shots. They were shots that we wanted him to take and he didn’t hesitate,” coach Brian Keefe said. “Some people hesitate when they’re not making them. He was not. That’s one of the things that we’ve learned about him is how strong he is mentally. When things aren’t perceived to be going well, it doesn’t affect him. He just keeps going and that’s pretty impressive.”