With the way he has played this season, it looks like the sky is the limit for LaMelo Ball. The Charlotte Hornets star has been on a tear before his injury, being one of the league leaders in scoring and establishing his place as an all-time clutch performer.
Only time will tell what Ball's ceiling is going to be. But if he can avoid the injury like a plague, it wouldn't be surprising to see him collect multiple All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Could he maybe, at the end of his career, surpass in status other legends, such as those in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team? It would definitely be a long shot unless Ball is provided with a strong supporting cast that could help him contend for a championship.
Teenage LaMelo Ball was something else
However, there is an area where the Hornets point guard was better than NBA 75 members Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
HoopsHype recently ranked the top 19 teenagers in the history of the NBA by checking out how the players (less than 200 in all) performed in the league before turning 20.
Ball landed at No. 8, one spot ahead of his draft classmate Anthony Edwards. The 2022 Rookie of the Year managed to average 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per contest in his 51 appearances as a 19-year-old. Right from the get-go, his all-around game, knack for deep 3-pointers, and flashy playmaking were already evident.
Beyond the numbers, the California native immediately had an impact on winning for the Hornets. From a 23-42 (.354) standing in the 2020-21 campaign, the team's record in Ball's first year in the league jumped to 33-39 (.458).
So, it's understandable why he had such a lofty ranking, higher than Garnett and Bryant, who ranked 10th and 13th, respectively. The other notable guys Ball surpassed include Anthony Davis (another NBA 75 nominee) and Jayson Tatum.
LaMelo then proved his impressive age-19 campaign wasn't a fluke, as he continued to progress during his sophomore season. He raised his production to 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game while securing his first-ever All-Star berth. Charlotte also made another leap, finishing with a winning percentage above .500, a feat it had not made since the 2015-16 campaign.
Unfortunately, Ball's development hit a snag when he sustained various injuries for two consecutive years. Consequently, the Hornets also suffered in the standings. Now, he has proven that all he needs to keep up with the league's elite is to just stay healthy. Hopefully, the young star's injury-depleted days are behind him.