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3 Reasons to Be Psyched About LaMelo Ball as a Charlotte Hornet

By Josh Flenniken

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 30: LaMelo Ball of the Hawks looks on during the round 9 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena on November 30, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 30: LaMelo Ball of the Hawks looks on during the round 9 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena on November 30, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images) /
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Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images) /

LaMelo has skills as a playmaker that should immediately translate to the NBA, but he has the physical tools to be a two-way star too

As I’ve already discussed, Ball has good size for a guard. He even has elite size for a point guard, being eclipsed only by Ben Simmons in height.

Despite his measurable advantage over guards, critics have been quick to point to Lamelo’s deficiencies on the defensive end—and for good reason. He gets lulled to sleep off-ball and doesn’t put up much of a fight navigating screens on-ball. His only real contributions defensively are highlight steals, and even those are risky jolts for the ball that force his teammates to cover his man when he misses and puts himself out of position.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because you heard and read the same things about brother Lonzo 3 and a half years ago. The elder Ball quickly leveraged his similar physical advantages and shaped himself into one of the best young perimeter defenders in the league at the point of attack basically from the gate. It will take a significant commitment, but under the Hornets’ solid developmental staff, LaMelo could feasibly follow suit (but maybe not in the single month until the season starts).

And then there’s the more complicated question of his shot.

Despite shooting an abysmal 25% from 3 for the Illawara Hawks last season, Ball was content to hoist up nearly 7 attempts a game. He wasn’t a great free throw shooter either at 72%. His form has improved in recent workout videos, but his release is still low and comes almost from the chest. Against NBA competition, that’s a recipe for getting blocked regularly.

While there aren’t surefire signs he’ll develop as a shooting threat, LaMelo’s updated shot does have good spin and a higher arc. If he can morph himself into a consistent shooter who takes smart shots, it could push his ceiling into rare air.