Three games is a very small sample size — but five years isn’t. The Hornets have been trying to find a way to construct a team around LaMelo Ball since he was drafted in 2020, and despite brief glimmers of hope, they largely failed at the task. This was in part due to questionable drafting, partially bad coaching, and injuries which have either sidelined Ball or a key teammate for large portions of seasons.
Thus far in 2025-26 it’s all coming together. Not only are the Hornets fielding the most promising team they’ve had in quite literally over a decade, but Ball is coming into his own and ascending to superstardom. This culminated on Sunday in a 139-113 win over the Wizards in which Melo put up a triple-double of 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.
There are certain things you have to accept when it comes to LaMelo Ball. Firstly, he’s a volume shooter and derives joy on the court from achieving the preposterous. Whether that’s attempting logo threes when he doesn’t need to, or driving the lane through three defenders to put up a floater — watching him play is akin to turning on NBA 2K for the first time and trying every single move the game offers. A calling card of Melo’s game has been doing things the hard way and making them look easy. Sometimes this is frustrating and you wish he just played with a little more care or efficiency, but to coach this element out of his game also means you’re inherently taking away what makes him such a special player, which is simply his joy when playing basketball.
The flip side of this frustration is that Ball derives just as much joy from passing as he does scoring. He applies the same level of flash and panache to his passing game, which results in jaw-dropping alley oops and Pete Maravich-like swing passes. The problem is that in recent years he hasn’t really been able to showcase this ability because he didn’t have teammates he could trust to knock down his potential assists.
This bred really bad tendencies in Ball, especially in the 2024-25 season. With Brandon Miller injured for the majority of the season, and the second option being the woefully inconsistent Miles Bridges, it led to Melo internalizing that the only way Charlotte could win is if he did everything offensively. This resulted in career-highs in field goals attempted and threes attempted, while also having career-lows in field goal percentage, 3P%, and his fewest assists since his rookie season. That’s before we begin to discuss his woeful defense.
Ball has never been a great defender. The looseness he displays on offense is a liability as an on-ball defender, and his slight build makes it easy for him to get pushed around. This season we’ve seen a fundamental change in how Ball has been utilized defensively, and it’s unlocking his potential on the other end of the court. Rather than have him stick to a man, instead Hornets coach Charles Lee is having him concentrate on filling passing lanes, while also switching to be a second defender pest. It’s channeled Ball’s frenetic, chaotic energy to allow him to use his length, with less of a focus on making him a traditional defender. It’s an unorthodox approach paying massive dividends so far.
Through three games he’s averaging a career-high 2.1 steals per 36 minutes — and more importantly, for the first time in Ball’s career he’s been a positive defensive player in +/-. The net result is a player who was routinely a negative player per 100 possessions has morphed into an absolute beast, boasting a 20.4 +/- per 100 this season while on the court.
Now, it’s certainly fair to wonder how much knowledge we can derive from games against the Nets, Sixers, and Wizards — but it’s far less about the score, and more about how Melo is playing the game and seeing the floor. Much of this has to do with the additions the Hornets made during the offseason. Thus far the decision to draft Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick looks like a home run. Rather than drafting an upside star, the Charlotte front office wanted someone who could compliment Ball and Brandon Miller. A glue guy who could be a reliable third or fourth scoring option, while doing all the little things this team needed on both ends of the floor.
Knueppel has quickly become one of Ball’s favorite passing targets on the perimeter, which has led to the rookie averaging 15.0 points and shooting a team-high 57.9% from three. Knueppel’s spot-up shooting has married perfectly with Ball’s ability to draw in defenders. Meanwhile, 2nd round rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner has been a revelation offensively, being a solid rebounder and finisher at the rim who LaMelo is building a rapport with.
This is the deepest, most talented, least-selfish team LaMelo Ball has ever led, and it’s showing. For the first time he’s having fun on the court, playing the way he wants to, and watching everything pan out. It’s also come with a true realization about what’s important.
LaMelo Ball isn’t just the best player on the Hornets, or an All-Star, but has truly begun to look like he could become one of the best point guards in the NBA. It’s been a journey, but LaMelo has arrived.
