Some people in the media have pushed the narrative that the Charlotte Hornets would be better off in the long run without LaMelo Ball. The team has already disproven that notion with its fine play this month. That, along with Brandon Miller's statement on Ball's impact on him and the rest of the squad, only goes to show how the criticisms thrown at the star point guard have been misguided.
The Hornets handily defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday to raise their record this January to 8-5. It was one of their better wins, grabbing a 50-point lead at one point before finishing with the 130-93 victory. Miller led their balanced offensive attack with 30 points. He extended his streak of putting up at least 20 points to seven games, and he is a huge reason Charlotte has the top-ranked offense in the league so far this month.
After starting the season shooting just 39.9 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from downtown, Miller has become much more efficient. Since the start of the month, he has hit 48.2 percent of his field-goal attempts and 44.0 percent of his threes.
The LaMelo Ball effect
In his postgame interview following their win over the Sixers, the third-year swingman acknowledged that Ball's mere presence has unlocked his offensive production. Miller said of his teammate, "When he's healthy, it could be a dangerous season for any team that steps on the floor with us. As him being our leader, the head of the snake, it goes a long way for us and the young core."
Evidently, the Hornets are a much better team with Ball leading the way. The on/off stats prove it, as does the fact that most of their best lineup combinations include the 2022 All-Star. The eye test also confirms that theory. Their offense looks lost without him, with the contests where he started off the bench as the perfect examples.
That has not been enough, though, for some analysts and even current players who moonlight as podcast hosts to believe that Charlotte isn't tanking and that the organization isn't trying to do right by Ball. There are also still claims that he is too much of an unserious player and lacks leadership skills to be the face of the franchise. Perhaps they should watch more Hornets basketball to better understand what's going on in the Queen City.
Miller's statement should suffice to show the league how indispensable Ball is to Charlotte. Sure, the 23-year-old rising star could one day turn into the club's best player, if he isn't already. Even Kon Knueppel has the potential to lay claim to that title. Still, Ball's leadership and playmaking will likely be key to the Hornets' dreams of becoming contenders.