The Attention
LaMelo Ball is the son of LaVar Ball, who many people probably know from his media attention. He promoted his kids by talking crazy about them and making ridiculous takes on national television, giving the Ball brothers plenty of hype. After their careers took off, he went quiet. It all seemed like part of a plan to get LaMelo heavily scouted and help him work his way into the NBA.
The Start
LaMelo Ball in high school was one of the most popular high school basketball players ever. Tons of clips of him were getting millions of views, following the path of his brother Lonzo. LaMelo even scored 92 points in 2017 while he was a sophomore in high school. Overall, he averaged 27 points per game and almost 10 assists. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2020 as the 3rd overall pick.
Next Up
LaMelo Ball won Rookie of the Year in his first season, although the Hornets lost in the play-in tournament. Many people around the league still thought the Hornets were next up after LaMelo’s rookie season. But something changed.
“He’s So Unserious”
LaMelo ended up playing only 133 of the next 246 games over the following three seasons. That is just 54 percent of the games, as he underwent multiple surgeries and struggled to stay on the court. Every season the Hornets would get a lottery pick and believe that next season would be the season they would be back. It never happened. Around the NBA, LaMelo began to be viewed as a joke. A player who could hit threes and make flashy plays, but would not get into a defensive stance.
The Disrespect
LaMelo Ball was averaging 30 points per game to start last season and was not even an All-Star. The league seriously viewed LaMelo Ball as a joke within the association. Nobody watched the Hornets, and it showed, because they were bad.
This Season
LaMelo Ball has played in 57 of the Hornets’ 67 games this season. Charlotte started the year 4-14, and it looked like another one of those seasons for the franchise. Since that rough 18 game start, the Hornets have gone 30-19, making them one of the hottest teams in the league. The addition of Kon Knueppel alongside LaMelo Ball has worked extremely well, and the Hornets are only three games back from the 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. Fans are starting to notice, and the Hornets might finally be next with LaMelo Ball leading the way.
— @SMHighlights on X
LaMelo Ball (PG/SG, #1)
Physicals: He is 6’7″ and 180 lb, born Aug. 22nd 2001, Ball was born and raised in California.
Draft: 3rd Overall in 2020 by the Hornets from Australia.
Potential: 📈 All-NBA Superstar 📉 Injury Prone All-Star
Shades Of: Jason Kidd, Tyrese Haliburton, Lonzo Ball.
LaMelo Ball’s Career Stats
| Season | Team | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Illawarra (NBL) | 12 | 31.3 | 17.0 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 25.0 | 72.3 |
| 2020-21 | CHO | 51 | 28.8 | 15.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 43.6 | 35.2 | 75.8 |
| 2021-22 | CHO | 75 | 32.3 | 20.1 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 42.9 | 38.9 | 87.2 |
| 2022-23 | CHO | 36 | 35.2 | 23.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 83.6 |
| 2023-24 | CHO | 22 | 32.3 | 23.9 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 43.3 | 35.5 | 86.5 |
| 2024-25 | CHO | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-26* | CHO | 58 | 27.6 | 19.3 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 40.0 | 36.5 | 89.8 |
| NBA Career | — | 289 | 31.1 | 20.7 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 41.7 | 36.5 | 84.6 |
| NBL Career | Illawarra | 12 | 31.3 | 17.0 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 25.0 | 72.3 |