LaMelo Ball is one of the most exciting talents the Charlotte Hornets franchise has ever seen. However, even with his electric style of play, the team has not reaped the rewards of having a player of his caliber. Ball won Rookie of the Year after the 2020-21 season and has been an All-Star selection, yet the Hornets have not made the playoffs since drafting him in 2020. Because team success has been elusive, there is growing doubt about whether he is truly a franchise-defining talent.
Why Is LaMelo Ball Facing Skepticism?
On the October 13 episode of “The Hoop Collective,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon offered a spicy take on Ball. While MacMahon did not deny how good the Hornets star is, he revealed an emerging skepticism around the league about whether Ball can be a franchise cornerstone.
“LaMelo Ball’s a mega-talent, who I just don’t think can be the face of a winning franchise,” MacMahon said. “And by the way, that’s not considered a controversial opinion when you talk to people within the league.”
On the surface, Ball’s career numbers are not shabby. In 231 total games since being drafted in 2020, he has averaged 21 points, 7.4 assists, and six rebounds while shooting 42.1% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.
However, that game total is also a major part of the problem. His 231 appearances average just 46 games per season over his five years in the NBA. Beyond the team’s failure to reach the playoffs, Ball has struggled to stay on the court consistently. He played more than 51 games only once in his career, during the 2021-22 season, and appeared in just 36, 22, and 47 games over the last three seasons, respectively.
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Ball’s inability to stay healthy is one reason the Hornets have not returned to the playoffs since 2016. However, the front office has also failed to build a competitive team around him. Their biggest addition since the Ball era began was signing Gordon Hayward, who had trouble staying on the floor during his time with the Hornets. Other key players like Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Grant Williams have also missed significant time, which has hindered Charlotte’s path to success.
This season, things could be different. Miller and Williams are back, and the team has high hopes for their new draft pick, Kon Knueppel. Charlotte added Collin Sexton for practically nothing during the offseason. These moves show that the organization intends to make a serious playoff run. If they achieve that goal, the narrative surrounding Ball may finally change. Until then, the skeptics, including MacMahon, seem justified.
