LaMelo Ball has quietly become one of the best players on the floor whenever he’s healthy. He’s operating at a near‑MVP level for the Charlotte Hornets, driving winning basketball in ways that are impossible to ignore. And yet, there are still two specific areas of his game that can be tightened up to really push him fully into the league’s MVP conversation next year: His mid-range game and turnovers.
For years, he was dismissed as a flashy highlight merchant who didn’t translate his talent into wins. That narrative doesn’t hold anymore. A deeper look at the analytics shows he’s already closer to that territory than most people realize.
His minutes are down compared to most seasons, but his per‑36 numbers explode off the page: 25.3 points, 9.6 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Those are exceptional stats that would put Ball on notice around the league. If Ball sharpens those two remaining weaknesses, the leap will turn him into an unstoppable force.
Alien-like talent with risk
Ball makes passes that only one percent of players in the league can make. He’s that special, as his creativity is superhuman-like. His elite court vision and flashy passes is a blessing and a curse. Attempting high-risk passes can result in costly turnovers.
You can live with some turnovers, but it can start to ring off alarms when it’s five or six a game. Those wasted possessions can swing the momentum of a game, especially during playoff basketball when defenses tighten up. If Ball can clean this up by even 20 percent, it can make a dramatic difference from how we view his already premier playmaking ability. The assist numbers on the box score will go up as well.
Mid-range prowess
Ball is undeniably one of the league's most dangerous deep-range shooters. His range stretches well beyond the arc, and he can convert difficult, off-balance threes that most players wouldn't dare attempt. The issue comes as you get closer to the paint and in particular, the mid-range area. His struggles are easy to overlook because he simply doesn't tank many shots from that area.
Per NBA stats, Ball is shooting 33.9% from mid-range this year. This is an awfully low percentage relative to players who are true MVP-caliber scorers like Kevin Durant or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both of whom shoot above 50% in this zone.
Charlotte's offense thrives in the regular season, where defenses are looser and their 37.8% team three-point shooting (top 3 in the league) can overwhelm opponents. But the playoffs are a different animal. In seven-game series, the defense tightens up and perimeter pressure ramps up. Opponents will force players like Ball to beat you in a different way like the mid-range.
Ball has the talent and star power to force his way into the MVP conversation as early as next season. The path is right in front of him: stay healthy, and sharpen the two areas of his game. When he's on the floor, his gravity and playmaking ability is evident and it sets himself apart from the rest. Making those strides on his game changes the narrative instantly.