Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has been put on notice heading into the NBA season.
When healthy, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is one of the most exciting stars in the NBA. But that's just the problem: Ball is rarely healthy.
The 24-year-old has played in a grand total of 105 games the past three seasons and has only appeared in 70 contests once over the course of his five-year career. Last year, Ball participated in 47 games — his most since 2021-22 — before bowing out to ankle and wrist injuries, both of which required surgery.
With the Hornets starting to actually move in a positive direction for the first time in forever, there is ample pressure on Ball to deliver, and Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes has appropriately listed him among the 10 players with the most to prove going into the 2025-26 campaign. And that goes beyond just staying on the floor.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images."In addition to proving he can remain healthy for a full season, Ball must evolve as a leader and consistent driver of team success," Hughes wrote. "No, the Hornets aren't poised to contend at any point in the near future. But Ball is entering his sixth campaign and needs to become something more than an entertainer in a low-stakes environment."
Ball averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 32 minutes per game last season. That's great. However, he posted ugly 40.5/33.9/84.3 shooting splits, and his defense continues to be less-than-stellar in spite of all his physical tools.
Charlotte signed Ball to a five-year, $260 million contract extension in July 2023, a deal that will take the former No. 3 overall pick through 2029. However, there has been rising speculation that Ball could become a trade candidate if he doesn't get it together this year.
No one has ever doubted Ball's talent. He is a very impressive young player with the potential to be great. But Ball isn't a neophyte anymore. He is entering his sixth season, so it's time for him to actually start leading the Hornets to prominence.
Charlotte has built a rather strong young nucleus over the last couple of years, and with the Eastern Conference weakening, there is every reason to believe that the Hornets should be much improved from last season when they won just 19 games. If not, then part of that will certainly fall on Ball.