LaMelo Ball has proven that when healthy, he can be a top-20 player in the NBA.
That said, the 23-year-old has struggled with injuries since being selected with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Last year, he averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range in 22 games.
In a recent episode of Brian Windhorst and the Hoop CollectiveESPN’s Tim MacMahon made a bold assessment of Ball.
MacMahon: “LaMelo has as much potential as most players in the NBA… I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can play winning basketball. I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can be the franchise player in a winning game. He has a pretty empty game… His efficiency is terrible, his defense is horrible and I don’t see a lot of evidence that this guy considers winning a priority.”
Hornets fans will likely be upset by MacMahon’s comments, but he will have a lot to prove over the next few seasons.
In 184 games, Ball is averaging career highs of 20.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range.
In 2022, Ball played in the All-Star Game (he appeared in a career-high 75 games).
The Hornets finished last season in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-51 record.
They have missed the NBA playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.
