With the regular season around the corner, more media outlets have released or updated their player rankings. Some of them have intriguing takes, particularly when you read from the perspective of a Charlotte Hornets fan.
For instance, an analyst ranking Brandon Miller behind 122 other players in the league may be borderline disrespectful. The incoming second-year pro still has a long way to go to reach his potential, but there is no way he shouldn't be considered a top-100 player in the league today.
At least there seems to be a consensus among some experts about LaMelo Ball's placement in the rankings, although he can probably be higher.
LaMelo Ball is poised to climb in the rankings
Various outlets, namely ESPN, CBS, The Ringer, HoopsHype, and The Action Network, have Ball ranked between No. 41 and No. 58. So, it appears the Hornets star will enter the 2024-25 season as one of the league's most underrated players.
The pundits agree that the 2021 Rookie of the Year has incredible offensive talent and should be a staple in highlight reels in the years to come. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him in the last two years from proving that he belongs with the NBA's cream of the crop.
However, it's worth noting that Ball has already made it to an All-Star team, which means he was one of the Eastern Conference's 12 best players at one point. He can likely return to that status if he manages to stay healthy.
So far in the preseason, the California native has shown flashes of his former self. He had been one of Charlotte's most valuable players before sitting out a contest and struggling from the field in the squad's most recent matchup against the New York Knicks.
Still, Hornets fans should be delighted to know that the franchise cornerstone is seemingly rounding into form. They can also probably anticipate him to take his game to the next level, as the Hornets' planned offensive philosophy fits perfectly with his skill set.
In addition, Ball looks like he has bought in with coach Charles Lee's message on Charlotte's need to put more emphasis on defense.
That area of the young floor general's game has been a magnet for criticism. But given that he has the tools to excel in that department, it wouldn't be surprising to watch him become an elite two-way point guard. If that happens, Ball making an even more significant leap in the rankings should be expected by the end of the 2024-25 campaign.