The Charlotte Hornets are finally earning the respect they’ve been chasing for years. For so long, the discourse around LaMelo Ball centered on whether he was “overrated” or “not a winning player.” That narrative has finally cracked.
In The Athletic’s 2026 NBA anonymous player poll, not a single player voted Ball as one of the league’s most overrated. Alperen Sengun topped the list with 12.3 percent of the vote. Ball has appeared on that list before in a different outlet but was nowhere to be found this year.
The shift is real, and it’s a huge positive for Ball, who has spent years under the microscope for putting up gaudy numbers that never seemed to translate into wins.
LaMelo Ball silenced critics the best way possible: by staying on the court
When you surround a star with real talent, good things tend to follow. Charlotte finished with 44 wins, a massive +.305 jump in win percentage from the 2024-25 season. Charles Lee’s Coach of the Year buzz was well-earned, but Ball’s availability was the engine behind the Hornets’ surprising rise this year.
After three straight seasons of playing 47 games or fewer, Ball suited up for 72 games—his most since his sophomore campaign. His impact was undeniable: he posted a team‑best +416 plus/minus on the season, warping defenses with his elite playmaking and deep shooting range.
A healthy LaMelo changes everything for Charlotte. It got to a point where trade rumors started circling about. Many Hornets fans were losing patience, but it seems like everyone is on board the Melo train now.
LaMelo Ball has to take the next step forward
Now comes the part that truly matters: winning in the postseason. Ball is six years into his career with zero playoff appearances. Fair or not, results matter. And that clock is ticking.
The good news? There’s finally real optimism in the Queen City. Kon Knueppel may have been snubbed for Rookie of the Year, but the bigger picture is clear: this roster is built to compete now.
If Jeff Peterson adds one more meaningful piece this offseason, the Hornets have a legitimate shot at making a real playoff run, ending their postseason drought.
And when that happens, the conversation won’t be about whether Ball is overrated. The conversation will center on his case to be an All-Star starter and the All-NBA team he’s earned this season. That’s the hope, anyway.
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