Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) handles the ball during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.  Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Hornets' LaMelo Ball named NBA's Rookie of the Year

Despite missing time with a fractured wrist, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

Ball fractured his wrist in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 20 and missed a total of 21 games. He returned on May 1 against the Detroit Pistons. 

The 19-year-old had been a front-runner for the league's MVP award all season. He averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 43.6% from the field and 35.2% from deep.

Ball was the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, going after Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Golden State Warriors big man James Wiseman. 

Edwards and Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton were also up for the Rookie of the Year award. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back
20-year MLB veteran working out, unsure about playing future
USA Hockey names HC for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics
Key Knicks forward ruled out for Game 7 vs. Pacers
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury

Want more Hornets news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.