LaMelo Ball is undeniably the face of the Charlotte Hornets franchise. Despite the team’s underwhelming performances over the last few seasons, Ball has been individually spectacular. While this is impressive, the team obviously has greater expectations for him moving forward.
In an interview with The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone, Hornets head coach Charles Lee outlined what the team needed from Ball in the upcoming season. Boone wrote:
“As the face of the franchise and the team’s highest-paid player, there are certain responsibilities that come with that, and the Hornets want to see Ball take a leap in becoming more of a leader.”
At 24, Ball is among the most talented young players in the league. While he has shown the potential to be an exciting player who can produce moments of brilliance on the court, his inconsistent performances and limited availability due to injury raise some concerns.
While remaining healthy has been a challenge for the former ROTY, the Hornets view the upcoming season as an opportunity for the guard to establish himself, especially with the arrival of Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz over the summer.
“Sexton, Lee says, elevates the whole environment, and Sexton and Ball are really building a rapport and talking up a storm together a lot after practice,” Boone continued.
With the addition of a capable point guard to the rotation, the depth and insurance could prove beneficial for the Hornets. More importantly, it also acts as a motivation for Ball, something Lee noted during the interview.
The Hornets guard has reportedly shown significant growth over the offseason, particularly in his focus on conditioning and defensive effort. Boone wrote:
“Lee, who had dinner with Ball and president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson earlier in the week to discuss goals, summer impressions, and personal growth, said Ball has registered a couple of personal records in the weight room this summer and was focused on building up his base.”
“Lee also said he sees clear growth in Ball on the defensive side, especially on high-effort plays, but emphasizes there’s a need for continued improvement in foul discipline and defensive consistency.”
This could be considered positive news for the franchise and the fan base. Ball has shown the potential to be a solid two-way player, especially with the influence of a player like Sexton.
Ball’s impressive size and length for a point guard, along with his agility and instincts, lay the framework for him to emerge as a solid defensive player. With improved core strength and a mental shift towards increased production on defense, he could be a greater factor in facilitating wins for his team.
Last season, Ball averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, while shooting 40.5% overall and 33.9% from the three-point line. Given that he appeared in only 47 games last season, it is evident that the 24-year-old can be more productive if he remains healthy next season.
Whether this will result in a better season for Charlotte, however, is questionable. There are more opportunities to succeed in the East next season, but considering the state of their roster, the Hornets may not make a significant climb up the ranks of the conference.
