This week, a prominent NBA insider attempted to fuel the idea that LaMelo Ball could be a franchise player for the Charlotte Hornets.
After being selected third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball had two seasons that gave Charlotte reason to believe he could be a future star. He put up solid numbers in his rookie season and then earned All-Star honors in his second year.
Also read: Where do the Charlotte Hornets rank in our latest NBA rankings?
After years of struggles, the Hornets nearly made the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, and Ball’s 20 points and nearly eight assists per game played a key role. However, since then, injuries have limited him to just 58 games over the past two seasons and have diminished his potential as a long-term star for the franchise.
Many believe that if Ball stays healthy, the Hornets have playoff potential. And that makes sense because his numbers the last two seasons have been even better than in 2021-22. However, ESPN NBA insider Tim McMahon calls his stats “empty calories” and doesn’t see LaMelo Ball ever becoming a winning player on a competitive team.
LaMelo Ball Stats (2023-24): 22 G, 23.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 36% 3PT
Tim McMahon says LaMelo Ball hasn’t shown winning is a priority
“I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can play winning basketball,” McMahon said on a new edition of “Hoop Collective” podcast. “I don’t know if LaMello Ball can be a contender’s franchise player. Because he has a pretty calorie-free game. The guy can fill out a scoresheet, but his efficiency is zero. His defense is horrible. And I don’t see much evidence that he considers winning a priority.”
It’s a tough prospect for McMahon to take. Especially when Ball hasn’t been able to play as much as he and the team would like, and the Hornets aren’t overflowing with talent. Hopefully he can stay healthy in 2024-25 and form a dynamic duo with last year’s first-round pick, Brandon Miller.
