Earlier in the 2024-25 campaign, LaMelo Ball was on track to warranting elite status in the NBA. He was in the thick of the race for the scoring title and used to be the king of the fourth quarter, proving himself with clutch performances time and time again. The Charlotte Hornets star even unleashed a signature shot, the one-legged 3-pointer, which helped cement his reputation as one of the league's most entertaining icons.
Unfortunately, injuries and the Hornets' underachieving stood in the way of greatness. Ball didn't even get to play in the All-Star Game, although a silver lining about that is that he didn't have to take part in the disaster of a contest, which featured more extra-curricular activities than basketball itself.
Interestingly, the former No. 3 pick made a brief cameo on NBA.com's MVP ladder in early December, placing 10th behind Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, Donovan Mitchell, and Stephen Curry. Now, he would be lucky to be in the top 30 in player rankings. In fact, he barely broke the top 40 in FanSided's NBA 99.
LaMelo Ball still has a lot to prove despite his gaudy statistics
If this were earlier in the year, I would be one of the first to protest Ball placing 39th in FanSided's player rankings. However, with the way his and Charlotte's season has turned out, it's hard to argue where he ended up in the rankings.
As Chris Kline noted, despite the holes in his game, Ball's talent, confidence, and ability to entertain people are undeniable. Those facets should be enough for the flashy floor general to belong in the Association's cream of the crop. However, he has yet to back up his production on the court with enough proof that he can impact winning as well as some of his fellow NBA stars.
In his defense, the Hornets would likely be last in the standings if he hadn't suited up this season. Still, the squad's record of 13-23 whenever Ball plays would have it on pace to finish the year 30-52 — not enough to even make it to the play-in tournament.
For the 2021 Rookie of the Year to make a huge jump in any player ranking, he would have to deliver more dubs to Charlotte. And for that to happen, he needs to find a way to stay healthy and spend much more time playing on the hardwood than watching from the sidelines.
The franchise also has to do its part in building a better and healthier roster around Ball. The lack of a solid supporting cast and continuity has taken its toll on his efficiency, as he is shooting just 41.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Hopefully, reinforcement will come this offseason, and Ball can take his game and leadership to the next level.