Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton has formally announced that guard Josh Hart will start in place of Lonzo Ball in Monday evening matchup against the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors at Staples Center.
The team's regular starter at the point guard position, Lonzo Ball, was spotted at the Lakers' home arena with a boot on his foot, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Ball was notably carted to the locker room area from the parking lot before Monday's tilt against the Warriors.
It is also worth noting that the Lakers remain without the team's original starting point guard, Rajon Rondo, who continues to work his way back from a lingering finger injury. While Ball has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, which is expected to sideline the up-and-coming signal caller for between four and six weeks, Rondo has not made a regular season appearance for the Lakers since their Christmas Day game against the Warriors.
Nonetheless, the aforementioned Hart has performed well when called upon thus far into the 2018-19 campaign. Over the course of his 47 regular season appearances this year, Hart has started an even 20 of those contests en route to averaging 27.3 minutes per outing. Entering Monday evening's bout against the Warriors, the 23-year-old guard will be sporting averages of 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for head coach Luke Walton in 2018-19.
Hart is currently in the midst of just his second NBA season, both of which have come as a member of the Lakers.
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