LaMelo Ball is one of the league's best point guards today, but he has had his fair share of detractors. The Charlotte Hornets' dismal record has a lot to do with that, even if it isn't entirely his fault.
Still, it's only right to admit that he has plenty of room for improvement. The 23-year-old star hasn't reached his ceiling yet, and that should be a scary proposition for the league. The question now is whether he can achieve his full potential or not.
The good news for Ball is that he has an organization committed to helping him continue to develop his game. Hornets coach Charles Lee revealed his plan to help the point guard this summer, pinpointing a specific area of improvement that should help his ward perform better on the floor.
Charles Lee wants LaMelo Ball to bulk up
"He's got to get stronger, and he's got to be able to be ready for more physical defenses because he is such an important player on our team," Lee said about the 2021 Rookie of the Year in his exit interview.
Lee further praised Ball for what he has done this season, making it seem like he will still be Charlotte's main guy moving forward. The playmaker also sent a clear message during the exit interviews, addressed to people who want him to ask for a trade, so he is here to stay.
Hopefully, Ball will take Lee's challenge to heart. He definitely needs to up his strength to gain the ability to fight through contact on offense. Perhaps bulking up his body will allow him to get to the free-throw line more often and rack up some easy points.
The additional strength can also be beneficial for Ball on defense. He already has the quickness and hops to be a disruptive force on that end of the court, but hitting the weight room can help prevent him from getting thrown around easily by heavier opponents.
An underrated possible effect of growing stronger is that it can help take off the pressure from Melo's problematic ankles. Maybe that will motivate him, especially because he has not had a healthy season since suiting up in 75 games in the 2021-22 campaign.
Ball might also find inspiration in the fact that his coach used to work with two superstar champions who have also had to deal with physicality. Lee mentioned that during his stints as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, he saw how opposing squads utilize physical defense to try to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum. If Melo wants to be on the same level as them, he would need to listen to the coach.