Could Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball make the All-NBA Third Team?
Former NBA executive and current analyst for The Athletic, John Hollinger, believes Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball should be considered "a candidate for Third-Team All-NBA."
Ball has had a terrific season for the Hornets and leads the NBA in offensive rating since the All-Star break.
"I haven’t heard him get a lot of shine for end-of-season honors, but Ball has played enough games to be eligible (!) and should be a candidate for Third-Team All-NBA," Hollinger wrote.
Ball is averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game on the season while shooting 40.7% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line.
A one-time All-Star, Ball is ninth in the NBA in assists per game and seventh in total assists.
"Following a sluggish start and early-season trade rumors, Ball has keyed the Hornets’ shocking surge into the postseason," Hollinger wrote. "He leads the NBA in offensive rating since the break, with the Hornets scoring a torrid 127.9 points per 100 when he plays. This is more notable because the Hornets’ offense stagnates without him, and that’s been the case all season; Charlotte scores just 110.4 points per 100 in the non-Ball minutes.
"The eye test also looks kindly on Ball; his formerly sluggish defensive habits have improved noticeably. He’s also shown more craft as a short-range finisher than we’ve seen in previous seasons, especially with decel steps."
Ball and the Hornets will have to win two play-in games to make the 2026 playoffs. Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016.
During an interview with Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Hornets exec Jeff Peterson spoke about Ball's seriousness. Many people don't realize that Ball had a very productive 2025 summer.
“We’ve got to give credit to LaMelo himself,” Peterson said, “because ever since I’ve been here, he’s been serious. I know last year he got banged up and just couldn’t finish the season. But even this summer, he took it extremely seriously, in terms of being in the weight room constantly. He put on 10 to 12 extra pounds of muscle, which helps. “It’s certainly going to help in the playoffs once we get there and all, just because the game becomes more physical, it slows down. Teams know LaMelo is the head of the snake, so if we get him frustrated or whatever it may be. ... So again, I’ll go back to the work that he put in this summer and then just being extra diligent with his rehab.”
It will be fascinating to see if the Hornets make the playoffs this season.
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