Unless surprises come up, there will be no sighting of LaMelo Ball during the All-Star Game this weekend. Many Charlotte Hornets fans are convinced that the star should be suiting up for the exhibition contest. However, he was unfortunately snubbed thrice — first as a starter, then as a reserve, and finally as Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury replacement.
It's regrettable since Ball has arguably been one of the best guards in the Eastern Conference this season, and that's despite having missed more than a dozen matches. His game is also tailor-made for the midseason showcase, and he would have likely served viewers with several highlight-reel plays.
A lot of people, though, have been justifying Ball's exclusion by using the Hornets' awful record. He has gained a reputation for not being a winning player, which might be unfair, considering the state of affairs in Charlotte.
Besides, the California native led the squad to a winning record (43-39) in the 2021-22 campaign, although it was good for just the 10th seed in the surprisingly tough Eastern Conference. It isn't a coincidence that was the only time Ball had a healthy campaign in his NBA career, making 75 appearances.
Jeff Teague is not sure if LaMelo Ball can lead a franchise
Retired point guard Jeff Teague discussed Ball's Buzz City career so far on his podcast, "Club 520," saying, "I love LaMelo's game, but I don't think he ever played winning basketball before so I don't know if he could lead a franchise like Ja Morant, because he had that experience."
It's interesting that the one-time All-Star brought up Morant, who, when not sidelined due to injuries or suspension, has been able to steer the Memphis Grizzlies to near the top of the Western Conference standings. As Teague alluded to, the 2020 Rookie of the Year spent two years at Murray State University, where he received plenty of playing time and got the opportunity to be a leader.
In contrast, Ball went through a "new whole circus," as Teague put it, after graduating from high school in 2018.
Because of questions surrounding his college eligibility, he decided to go pro, bringing his talents to the Lithuanian Basketball League, where the playmaker didn't see much playing time.
An abrupt end to his stint in Lithuania led him to suit up for the Junior Basketball Association, which his father had just established. Against incredibly weak competition, Ball put up insane numbers (39.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 11.5 assists in 45.9 minutes per game).
Then, in 2019, he joined the Australia-based National Basketball League, which actually boded well for his NBA prospects. Thanks to his occasional spectacular performances in the Land Down Under, Ball was able to make a massive leap in plenty of experts' draft boards in 2020. But as Teague pointed out, Ball had never experienced being a leader and even a winner prior to being drafted by the Hornets.
It should be noted, though, that his own injuries and the lack of a strong (and healthy) supporting cast have heavily factored into Ball's lackluster win-loss record in the NBA. Perhaps next season will be different for Charlotte and its star, which would allow him to prove Teague wrong and embark on a similar career arc to Morant's — minus the off-court issues, of course.