The Charlotte Hornets took on the Atlanta Hawks at the State Farm Arena last night. During the game, one fan had some choice words for LaMelo Ball, poking fun at how he and the Hornets are a bad team that plays hard at a high level only to lose most, if not all of their games, before calling Ball and his fellow teammates scrubs.
“The shoes are weak. These seats cost $2500, man. You getting paid to lose. We getting paid to watch you lose. That’s the difference. You sweating to lose… Scrub.”
LaMelo Ball with a quick back n forth with an Atlanta Hawks fan last night : pic.twitter.com/VVuZqEoKm6
— 🍒 (@igotnftsmedia) March 13, 2025
This may be an example of fans taking things too far. Trash-talking between fans and players is completely understandable. But to go after a player’s talent and hard work is a little too much. However, Ball didn’t seem to take great offense to the situation, so maybe there isn’t much here, and this writer is just taking things too seriously.
All players in the NBA work very hard to get to the league and work just as hard to stay there. However, not all players are equal, and some will find more success, either thanks to their own brilliance or the teams they play for.
To try and demonize a talented player like LaMelo for the failure of the Hornets is a little harsh. However, given how often Ball has come up hurt or hasn’t played up to his potential, he does deserve to shoulder some of the blame for where the Hornets are right now.
LaMelo was touted as one of the brightest prospects coming out of the 2020 NBA Draft. However, players from his draft class, like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Tyrese Maxey, have since eclipsed him and have found far more success on a consistent basis.
LaMelo has played well, but his injury concerns have always held him back. This season, he has played just 42 of the Hornets’ 65 games. During this stretch, he has averaged 25.5 points, 7.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.0% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc, and 83.6% from the free-throw line.
While his scoring output is good, his percentages show that he isn’t playing as efficiently as he should be. On top of that, the Hornets have won just 16 games this season, which is abysmal given that they have two top-three draft picks on their roster with Ball and Brandon Miller. However, injuries, along with a generally poor roster, mean that the two young stars can’t do much to help the team.
Many have wondered whether it would behoove LaMelo to join another team where he can flourish as a superstar. One Bleacher Report insider pitched a trade that sees Ball join the Dallas Mavericks as their new franchise cornerstone. Perhaps this trade, should it come to fruition, could be the move that Ball needs to unlock his true potential as a star in the NBA.
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