Hornets 2K: Should LaMelo Ball be on the Hornets’ all-time team?

The Charlotte Hornets are (kind of) the youngest franchise in the NBA. While their history dates back to the 1988 season, there were some gap years, the Bobcats days, and the transferring of the original Charlotte Hornets records that mucked up the franchise’s history along the way.

With this bizarre franchise history, it should come as no surprise that the Swarm possess the worst All-Time Team in NBA 2K22. As players (and the team itself) have come and gone, there have not been too many marquee players to suit up in the iconic Charlotte teal.

At the moment, only nine of the 15 members on the Hornets’ All-Time Team have an All-Star appearance, and they combine for 24 total appearances. When compared to teams like the Lakers and Celtics, whose respective histories are full of All-Star-caliber players, the Hornets clearly don’t stack up and deserve to have one of the lousiest All-Time Teams.

That being said, there is hope for the future of Hornets basketball. LaMelo Ball was named to his first All-Star team this season, and he is only 20-years-old. With the sophomore phenom on the roster for a few more seasons, the Swarm could make some noise in the East.

With an All-Star appearance and Rookie of the Year Award already under his belt, Ball should immediately be placed on the Hornets All-Time Team. Although he would knock David Wesley, who is the lowest rated player on the squad at the moment, off of the All-Time Team, I think that is a sacrifice that most fans and players would be willing to make.

By placing an 86 overall Ball on the All-Time squad, the Hornets would still maintain the lowest overall rating of the 30 NBA franchises, but the gap would lower considerably. If Ball continues to burn the hardwood in his third season, the Hornets may even pass the Grizzlies for the 29th-best All-Time Team in NBA 2K.

Either way, Ball deserves to be on the team. With the Hornets’ best player, Glen Rice, being a 90 overall, it is realistic that Ball could become the greatest Hornet of all-time with just a few more All-Star appearances. If he stays in Charlotte, Ball could stay on the All-Time team for plenty of years to come.