Despite having played well to start the season, Minnesota Timberwolves star LaMelo Ball is struggling in one key area: foul trouble. Ball has been a foul trouble in all but one of the Timberwolves' first seven games.
That's a surprising development considering that most guards, let alone star guards, often don't pick up cheap fouls. Ball isn't currently playing big minutes, averaging just 26 minutes per game.
That is largely due to him struggling to stay on the floor due to him picking up ticky-tac fouls. In fact, in the Timberwolves' most recent game against the San Antonio Spurs, he picked up a staggered four first-half fouls and sat never really getting going. He later fouled out, which underscores the issue.
Frustrating LaMelo Ball flaw is becoming a big problem for the Wolves
With star Anthony Edwards out for up to two months, the Timberwolves need the Ball to stay on the court. However, if he is going to continue to struggle with foul trouble, then that is a massive problem.
The margin for error in the West is incredibly slim, and the Timberwolves can't afford to lose games with Ball in foul trouble. That's simply something that Ball will have to fix.
It would be one thing if it were a problem with how he is being officiated. However, it's less of a problem with officiating and more of a problem with how he's defending.
Against the Spurs, Ball picked up several cheap fouls that sent him to the bench and fouled out by smacking Victor Wembanyama in the face while driving to the basket. The Wolves aren't going to win games with Edwards out and Ball playing carelessly, so he must make a concerted effort to stay out of foul trouble.
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