ESPN has released the first part of its player rankings, revealing who broke into the Nos. 100 to 51. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller made the cut, and while some Charlotte Hornets fans may be up in arms about where they landed, their placement should only bode well for the duo and the team.
Ball ended at the No. 63 spot, well below his rank of 50th last year. ESPN acknowledged his talent, describing him as "one of the more dynamic point guards" in the NBA, but only when he's healthy. Unfortunately, his lack of availability caused his steep fall in the rankings.
None of the sports outlet's insiders appear to doubt Ball's talent. After all, there's a clear argument that he is better than probably more than a dozen players classified ahead of him, especially when he was a fringe All-Star last year. However, injuries are a part of the game as much as they had significantly influenced ESPN's thought process when it ranked the players.
Where Miller landed on the list might also come across as disrespectful. He is in the 76th place, falling eight spots from his previous position. After showing promise as an elite outside shooter and three-level scorer in the early goings of the 2024-25 campaign, his season had to be cut short because of a torn ligament in his right wrist.
A 27-game season averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.9 3-pointers per contest was not enough for the Hornets youngster to earn a better ranking in ESPN's view.
Hornets pair should use the slight as motivation
It's tough to blame the panel for not placing Ball and Miller higher on the list, as their injuries have made it difficult to assess their real value. Moreover, Charlotte's struggles in the standings, even when either or both of the squad's core duo are healthy, have impacted how people outside the organization assess them.
Of course, the tandem's low position in ESPN's player rankings, or on any platform for that matter, does not reflect their true worth. Ball and Miller would just have to pay no heed to the outside noise, especially the arguments that there are at least 62 guys in the NBA better than Melo and 75 in the case of his teammate.
A different way to look at it, though, is to use the seeming disrespect as motivation to make a massive leap this coming season, particularly in the physical health area, and help the Hornets rise from the bottom of the standings. Given how Ball and Miller are undeniably gifted hoopsters, playing with a chip on their shoulder could elevate their games.