For the game on Thursday, January 8, 2026 against the Indiana Pacers, LaMelo Ball did not start due to a coach’s decision by head coach Charles Lee.
While Ball has been dealing with lingering ankle soreness (and was listed on the injury report as probable), the move to the bench appears to be largely strategic rather than purely medical.
Here are the key reasons for the change:
Performance Issues: LaMelo has struggled with shooting efficiency recently (shooting roughly 40% from the field and 34% from deep over his last four games).
Accountability: In the previous game against the Toronto Raptors (Jan 7), Coach Lee benched Ball during key moments in the fourth quarter in favor of other guards.
Lineup Experimentation: Colin Sexton started in his place for this matchup. This was the first time LaMelo has come off the bench since his rookie season in 2020.
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Summary:
He is healthy enough to play (listed as “Available”), but the team is trying a new rotation to address recent struggles and defensive consistency.
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