What does a peak LaMelo Ball season look like?

LaMelo Ball is arguably the most talented player to ever wear the Charlotte Hornets purple and teal. Injuries have hampered Ball’s effectiveness for most of his young career, but the young guard’s time on the floor is still must-see television. Ball dazzles viewers with his Gastonia reach (shout-out to Eric Collins), uncanny passing vision and tight control in a 6-foot-10 package that looks downright alien.

The most fascinating thing about Ball’s game is that the best is yet to come for the young superstar. At just 22 years old, the Hornets’ starting point guard hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he can become as a ball player. He can still improve his ball security, his playmaking strength and his finishing around the basket, which, frankly, are all areas of weakness for a player of his stature.

The best way for Ball to improve is to accentuate his strengths, become a more consistent player night in and night out, and most importantly, stay on the court. Ball followed his 2021-22 All-Star season in which he played 75 games with two seasons in which he played a combined 58. Ankle injuries are Ball’s biggest problem, and while they’ve knocked down plenty of players in the NBA’s long history, others have overcome chronic ankle issues to have Hall of Fame careers. Steph Curry, for example. Know his game?

Let’s say LaMelo figures out how to manage his chronic ankle problems. The suspenders he was spotted wearing in pre-season training are a good start.. What would this season look like statistically? I think the 2020-21 season could give us a good idea.

Luka Doncic is one of the best offensive players in NBA history. His masterful 2023-24 season (33 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists) ended in the NBA Finals, with the Dallas Mavericks losing to the Boston Celtics in five games. In a recent episode of the Lowe Post podcastESPN’s Zach Lowe drew a comparison between Ball and Doncic.

Lowe cleverly articulated the differences between the two, acknowledging Doncic’s unmatched playmaking skills and unstoppable offensive output. To say LaMelo Ball could have a season that matches Doncic’s peak is blasphemous right now, but is it crazy to think Ball could reach 85-90% of Luka Doncic’s peak? In 2021, Doncic averaged 27.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists on 45/35/73 shooting splits. Ball will likely never match Doncic’s rebounding prowess, but 27.7 points and 8.0 assists on similar (or better) efficiency is absolutely near the top of Ball’s output range.

Statistically, I think LaMelo Ball could score 28-30 points, 8-11 assists, and 5-7 rebounds over the course of his season, shooting 42/37/83 from the field. A season of that statistical magnitude, combined with an improved Hornets product that leads to wins, would undoubtedly put Ball in contention for an All-NBA team spot, an accolade that has only been bestowed upon six Hornets in franchise history.

Jeff Peterson and Charles Lee are moving things in the right direction. The duo tasked with reviving a listless franchise pulled all the strings this summer, but any goodwill they’ve built up will quickly evaporate if the on-court product doesn’t live up to the hype. LaMelo Ball is a key part of the Hornets’ present and future, and if the franchise reaches previously unattainable heights, a breakout season from their one-of-a-kind point guard will be a big reason why.

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