The Charlotte Hornets' loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday was understandable. They fielded their starters for the first time this season, although three of them have not fully recovered yet from their injuries.
On the opposite corner was a Sixers squad that may have been without Joel Embiid and Jared McCain but was still headlined by two All-Star-caliber players in Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. The pair combined for 73 points, outscoring the Hornets' entire starting lineup.
Thursday was a different story, though. The Hornets had no business losing to the Washington Wizards, who, despite the win, still trails all teams in the standings this season. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising for Charlotte to join them in the cellar, having lost 11 of its last 12 games.
LaMelo Ball currently has the third-highest usage rate in a season
Hornets star LaMelo Ball tried his best to steer his squad to the win, putting up 34 points, 13 assists, and four steals. However, he shot just 11-32 from the field and 3-18 from the 3-point line. Interestingly, that wasn't even his worst-shooting night from beyond the arc in the 2024-25 campaign.
Being without Brandon Miller was too much to overcome for the Hornets' offense, although the good news for the organization is that the sophomore swingman could make a return soon.
Still, even when Miller has suited up, Charlotte has shown to be too reliant on Ball. In fact, the 2022 All-Star leads the league this season in usage rate with 39.7 percent. Significantly behind are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic.
If he maintains this pace for the remainder of the season, Ball would end up with the third-highest usage rate in a campaign. Russell Westbrook holds the record with 41.7 percent, which he logged during his MVP run in the 2016-17 campaign. In second place is James Harden. The former Houston Rockets superstar had a 40.5 percent usage rate in the 2018-19 season that helped him finish as a runner-up in the MVP race after winning it the year before.
While Westbrook and Harden will likely end up in the Hall of Fame one day, their games haven't exactly been associated with winning basketball. And Ball joining them in the record books might not be beneficial to his reputation.
Some people already concur that he possesses an "empty calories game," and there are Hornets fans who have called on the front office to trade the former Rookie of the Year in exchange for assets that could help the team in the future.
Of course, it's unfair to pin the blame for Charlotte's woes solely on Ball. The franchise also has to do a better job of providing him with the necessary support. Reinforcing the roster won't cut it, as the coaching staff must also upgrade its offensive playbook. Otherwise, the Hornets could continue free-falling in the standings and risk making their star unhappy.