LaMelo Ball profiles as the perfect addition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not only is he the playmaker that the Timberwolves have sorely needed for so long, but he's a dynamic, fast-paced scorer who can take over the game in his own right and thus should be a perfect paring for Anthony Edwards in the back court. 

There is one major issue with Ball though and that's how injury prone he's been already in his brief NBA career. 

In six NBA seasons, Ball has played in 70+ games just twice, though the 2025-26 season was his healthiest since his sophomore season, playing 72 games and averaging 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.8% from three. 

His injury history is the only real factor that should give the Timberwolves pause, but even on that front, Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is confident that Ball can stay on the court and looked to him for reassurance in that regard during a press conference that the two appeared in recently.

"You've seen what LaMelo does when he's healthy and even with the health, it's been these random, wonky injuries, right?" Connelly said (via Nick Carboni). "It's nothing... You'll play more than 72 games for sure, right?"

Looking at Ball's extensive injury history, there is a recurring pattern. His most common injuries have been to his ankles, which has kept him sidelined for the majority of the games that he's missed in his career and even ended his 2024-25 campaign prematurely when he was shut down to undergo surgery for right ankle impingement. 

Beyond his ankle issues, Ball has periodic problems with his wrists, which also warranted a surgery in 2025, as well as periodic problems with his calves and one stint of being kept away from the court due to health and safety protocols after a COVID-19 infection in December 2021. 

As Connelly mentioned, Ball has suffered freak injuries at times. The ankle fracture that required season-ending surgery was somewhat of a freak incident and in the following season, efforts from Ball rest to avoid biasing his newly-repaired right ankle led to him spraining his left ankle. 

The way that Ball plays, reliant on quick movements and near-constant motion that carried him across the court can easily be pointed at as to why he has suffered so many lower-body issues, but now that he's in a situation where he won't have to be the first option on the court, he may be able to avoid some of the strain that's held him back in the past.

When Connelly asked Ball if he'll be able to play at least 75 games, the new Timberwolves guard added "hopefully" which is a less-than optimistic answer than what Connelly was looking for, but looking at his fairly healthy 2025-26 season and the accommodations of his new situation, it's reasonable to think that Ball will be able to enjoy more time on the court in his new surroundings.