When Bleacher Report labeled LaMelo Ball as the NBA’s most overrated player last week, the criticism felt more like a personal challenge than a reflection of reality. At the end of last season, Tyrese Haliburton earned the same tag before leading the the Indiana Pacers all the way to the NBA Finals.
If history teaches us anything, it’s that being dismissed can fuel greatness. And if Ball takes a page from Tyrese’s playbook, Charlotte Hornets fans may be in for one of the most motivated seasons they’ve ever seen.
LaMelo's game has always been partly defined by unpredictability. His elite passing and otherworldly deep shooting range have made him the unquestioned franchise player since arriving in Charlotte. But he's also been steadily underrated throughout his five professional seasons, likely due to injuries.
The Hornets enter the 2025-26 season with Ball set to have his best campaign yet. The offseason additions the team made were clear indicators that they're backing up the words of Charles Lee and building around number one. LaMelo will have a lot more help around him than he's had in years past.
LaMelo is set up for a fantastic 2025-26
This kind of slight from a national outlet may sting now, but it could also serve as an unexpected turning point. LaMelo’s relationship with criticism goes back to his mental toughness and resilience. Fans know Ball has been scrutinized long before he entered the league, and the criticisms levied against him have often been unfair. This time, it almost feels a bit personal, considering the context of his situation recently, playing with an injured and sometimes undermanned roster.
What happened with Haliburton should serve as an example. He wasn’t the biggest name or the flashiest athlete, but he embraced the slight and turned it into one of the best stories in sports. The similarities to Ball are not perfect, but LaMelo has all the tools to do the same.
Now, Ball is put in a better position to succeed than any point in his career before. With a healthy Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as his main supporting cast and then a host of useful role players down the bench, there will be maybe less pressure than ever on Melo to carry the offense.
Bleacher Report’s slight may have been meant as a critique, but it might actually wake something inside LaMelo. Critics should buckle up, because dismissing Ball now could be their biggest miscalculation yet.