LaMelo Ball just had his finest performance in over a month during the Charlotte Hornets' bounceback win against the Washington Wizards. What may have gone unnoticed amid his efficient scoring, 3-point barrage, and all-around production was his zero-turnover line. He has really been taking care of the ball of late, as his average turnovers this February is now down to 1.8 per game.
The Hornets star's apparent carelessness with the rock has been frustrating at times. In the previous three seasons, he had averaged 3.6 turnovers per contest. It had looked like the problem would persist in the 2025-26 campaign, as he had been turning it over 3.7 times per game until the end of December. But in the Hornets' first outing in January, Ball had zero turnovers for the first time this season. He then continued to dial it down last month, logging just 2.4 turnovers per match in 17 appearances.
Impressively, Ball's ball-handling and playmaking efficiency have even improved this February. He has yet to register more than three miscues in any of Charlotte's eight matches this month, highlighting how far along his decision-making has progressed.
A new and improved LaMelo?
Only time will tell how long Ball can sustain his newfound style of play. There's little reason to believe that his turnover-prone days will return, especially since the collective basketball IQ around him has been as high as ever. Fans should definitely hope that is indeed the case, as it has been proven that the Hornets' reaching the next level depends on his playmaking abilities.
Of course, Ball still has a lot to work on to become one of the league's best stars, and that includes his shooting efficiency. He proved on Sunday, though, that he can still light it up from the field, putting up 37 points on 12-20 shooting. Ten of his field goals came from beyond the arc, joining four other players in the franchise's history book who have made double-digit 3-pointers in a game.
The point guard also has to mature a bit more, although it is already a good sign that he didn't force his shots in Washington despite having the hot hand. As Charles Les noted, Ball did not find the need to pull off some heat checks despite his outstanding shooting night. Instead, he allowed his teammates to shine, too, with Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller hitting five 3-pointers each and combining for 50 points.
Moreover, Ball also found other ways to make an impact, leading all players in rebounds and assists with seven each. If the contest was not a blowout, he likely would have completed the triple-double.
With Charlotte looking to rise in the standings and steal a higher seed in the coming weeks, Ball has to maintain, or perhaps level up, his production and efficiency. He doesn't have to score as much, as long as he continues to keep feeding his teammates for easy shots and, of course, limiting his turnovers.