LaMelo Ball is one of the best offensive players in the NBA but he hasn’t played on a winning team since high school.
Since entering the NBA in 2020, LaMelo Ball has quickly turned into one of the best guards in the league. In his second season, he made the All-Star Game and is averaging 27.3 points per game this season.
There is no denying that Ball is incredibly talented, but he and the Charlotte Hornets only have one winning season together.
On top of that, he is frequently injured, which calls into question his durability. Plus, he has had his fair share of controversial moments and doesn’t seem to be “media trained.” In many ways, his style on and off the court is similar to Ja Morant, but Morant has turned the Memphis Grizzlies into a winning organization.
Morant, after being an overlooked college prospect, committed to mid-major Murray State, where he broke out onto the scene before being picked second overall in 2019. Ball, on the other hand, was a four-star recruit and one of the best young point guards in the country, but he and his father, LaVar, packed their bags and headed to the Lithuanian League, where he played eight forgettable games with Prienai.
After that, he played in the Australian NBL for one season, averaging 17 points per game before being selected third overall in 2020.
Ball has never been suspended as Morant has for gun-related activities, but videos of him driving through red lights and swearing on camera have left a negative impression, similar to the way Morant is perceived, although Morant has a track record of success, leading his team to the playoffs three times.
During his second season at Murray State, Morant was tasked with being “the guy.” In the NCAA, players get invested in team success and the burden of winning was largely on Morant’s shoulders.
Ball, on the other hand, played a season in Lithuania and another in Australia, but it was very clear that he (and his family) was not invested in team success overseas. In short, Ball has never been asked to be a leader, and former players are taking notice of that.
“I love LaMelo’s game,” praised Jeff Teague. “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.
“He went straight from high school, basically. He had a different route overseas to him. He played high school with his brothers, Lonzo led that team.
“Then he went on a whole new circus. He never really had to be a leader of a squad or take over a team as a team. They lost all the time.”
In high school, Ball and Chino Hills High School won state and district titles, but since then he has not been on winning teams.
Morant and his Grizzlies made the playoffs in his second NBA season. Ball, on the other hand, has made one Play-In appearance in his five NBA seasons and the Hornets are the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference.
During his first few seasons in Charlotte, there was very little accountability on his shoulders, and it doesn’t seem like any leadership role has been given to him.
In order for Ball to prove Teague wrong and become a winner, one of two things need to happen. The less dramatic solution would simply be demanding him to play better defense, carry himself like a veteran, and surround him with players who prioritize winning.
The other solution, which is not off the table, is for the Hornets to trade him. As things stand, Ball is not equipped to be the first option on a winning team, but teams with superstars already rostered like the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have, at points, been linked to Ball.
Of course, those teams both made splashy moves before the trade deadline, so the Hornets would have to find a different suitor, but with his immense talent, Charlotte has plenty of options and doesn’t need to rush what could be a long process.
