LaMelo Ball named Charlotte Hornets’ highest ceiling prospect
When it comes to the prospect with the highest ceiling on the Charlotte Hornets, the answer is apparently pretty obvious. A list of Every NBA Team’s Highest-Ceiling Prospect appearing on Bleacher Report has identified LaMelo Ball to be the player who is worthy of receiving this designation.
Author Mo Dakhil was complimentary of Ball’s skillset, noting his ability as a ball-hander in addition to being a winner of the Rookie of the Year Award.
"“Ball is a highlight waiting to happen anytime he has the ball in his hands. He’s an electric passer with elite ball-handling and can let it fly from anywhere. Ball in three seasons has already won Rookie of the Year and made an All-Star Game.”"
While Ball is an incredible talent and capable of making a highlight-worthy play at any moment, there are some concerns. Dakhil mentions his decision-making and efficiency, as well as his efforts on the defensive end of the floor being areas that Ball needs to work on.
"“Ball has incredible skill, but his decision-making leaves much to be desired. His shot selection drives most coaches mad. He would rather go for the flashy play than the simple right one, and he can be very apathetic on the defensive end.”"
While Ball is known to be an inefficient player shooting-wise, it is not like the Hornets have been a competitive or even stable organization since he was drafted by the team in 2020. That span has seen Charlotte go 103-133, a disappointing winning percentage of just .436. The lack of talent on the roster could be a major factor in his less-than-desirable shot choices and overall inefficiency.
It is also important to note that Ball is still only 22 years old. In time, his efficiency and effort on defense could improve as he further develops as an NBA player. Additionally, a couple of Charlotte’s draft selections turning into solid rotation players could also help the feeling that he needs to do everything himself. There is still plenty of time for him to improve in these areas of concern. But even if he doesn’t see much of an uptick in these areas, it will be his scoring and playmaking ability that will drive the success of the Hornets in the future.
