Hornets Preview: It Almost All Comes Down To LaMelo Ball

Hornets Preview

A look at the Charlotte Hornets entering the 2024-25 season …

• Coach: Charles Lee
• Last Season: 21-61 (failed to make the playoffs)
• New Faces: Josh Green, Taj Gibson, Tidjane Salaun, Charlie Brown Jr., DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr.
• Key Losses: Davis Bertans, Aleksej Pokusevski, Bryce McGowens, JT Thor

Overview

LaMelo Ball arrived in Charlotte with all the hype and fanfare you’d expect from a No. 3 overall pick. His first couple of seasons seemed to justify it.

He was flashy, electrifying, and at times looked like the next great NBA point guard. His 2021 Rookie of the Year award and All-Star appearance solidified him as the face of the Hornets.

But as we sit here heading into the 2024-25 season, the question has shifted: Is LaMelo Ball truly the player who can lead this franchise to winning basketball?

At the moment, it’s tough to say yes with any conviction.

Make no mistake, Ball has the talent. Standing 6-foot-7 with an incredible feel for the game, he’s got the court vision, creativity, and shot-making ability that made him a tantalizing prospect.

His numbers are impressive at a glance — last season he put up 23.3 points, 8.4 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. That’s the kind of stat line you want from a young star, right? Sure, but the deeper you look, the more concerns start to surface. And those concerns are growing louder.

Ball’s efficiency is a real issue. He’s a high-usage player who shoots under 40% from three, struggles in the midrange, and hasn’t been able to finish at the rim with the consistency you’d expect from a player of his skill level.

In fact, his shooting percentages across the board took a dip last season, and it didn’t help that he turned the ball over nearly four times per game. For a guy who has the ball in his hands as much as he does, that’s a problem.

Then there’s the defense — or lack thereof. On the other end of the floor, the Hornets were worse with Ball on the court.

They posted one of the league’s worst defensive ratings during his minutes, and while defense isn’t exactly LaMelo’s calling card, the lack of improvement is concerning. Teams routinely attacked him, and he didn’t offer much resistance.

But it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about leadership. Former coach James Borrego hinted at it years ago when he said the organization needed to instill professionalism in Ball early on — show him how to lead by example.

Fast forward to today, and it’s fair to wonder if that lesson ever stuck. Has Ball truly grown into the leader the Hornets need? Or is he content being the showman, the player who racks up highlights but not wins?

That’s the biggest challenge for new head coach Charles Lee. Lee is stepping into a situation where LaMelo is the unquestioned face of the franchise, but it’s his job to get Ball to evolve into a more complete player — a leader who can elevate those around him and make winning plays.

With young talents like Brandon Miller and Mark Williams on the roster, the Hornets have potential. Miller has the ability to take over games and it appears he is a true, blue superstar in the making. Miles Bridges is also back and we all know what he can do. But none of it will matter if Ball can’t maximize it.

The best-case scenario is clear: Ball tightens up his game, cuts down the turnovers, starts defending with purpose, and helps Miller emerge as a star. If that happens, the Hornets could be a fun team, maybe even a playoff team.

But the worst-case scenario? Ball’s inefficiency persists, the team remains stuck in the mud, and the Hornets waste another year of development for their young core.

Like it or not, LaMelo Ball is the face of the Hornets. Whether he can lead them out of the lottery and into contention remains the biggest question of all. And right now, that question doesn’t have an easy answer.