LaMelo Ball disproves negative perception about him with recent play

Probably not a lot of people had LaMelo Ball becoming one of the league's best players in the early going of the 2024-25 season on their bingo card. However, that's the reality now, with the Charlotte Hornets star outperforming the ranking many experts pegged him to be at before the start of the regular season.

He has taken a massive leap, averaging career-highs in scoring (28.4 points per game) and field-goal percentage (44.5 percent). Moreover, he has surprisingly been the NBA's most prolific scorer in the fourth quarter.

Ball is on pace to smash Russell Westbrook's record of 10.0 points per contest in the fourth quarter. As it stands, he is putting up 11.7 points per match in the final period.

Melo has been all about winning

One of the criticisms thrown at Ball entering the regular season was his supposed inability to impact winning despite his stellar on-court production. ESPN writer Tim MacMahon even issued an unfair description of the Hornets playmaker, accusing him of having an "empty calories game."

Watch Ball now, and you wouldn't dare think he doesn't care about winning. He is a major reason Charlotte has four notches in the wins column and has been competitive in most of the team's matches.

What makes Ball's performance so far even more impressive is how he has been able to inspire his squad to do better. According to coach Charles Lee, the Hornets players have benefitted from the star's willingness to play off the ball and his confidence in his teammates. So, that should put to rest the additional criticism about the 23-year-old point guard's lack of leadership skills.

It remains to be seen how the rest of Charlotte's campaign turns out. However, with the way it has performed in the first couple of weeks, the prospect of the team booking a trip to the postseason or even the playoffs is not out of the question.

That spawns the possible concern about whether it would be wise for the franchise to try to end its playoff drought. Securing that feat would mean not having a first-round pick in the loaded 2025 draft because it would have to convey the pick to the San Antonio Spurs.

Logic would call for the Hornets to tank one last time in order to add another young piece to their core. But if Ball decides it's time to bring back playoff basketball to Charlotte after eight long years, it would be wise for the organization to follow suit.