The Charlotte Hornets have made the playoffs only three times since 2002 and have not won a single series since that year more than two decades ago. LaMelo Ball has become the face of the franchise, as the most important player since Kemba Walker led the team. Many NBA fans and pundits believe Ball must guide Charlotte to at least contend for a play-in seed as someone developing a losing reputation.
Ball, however, sees it differently. When asked on media day about his pressure level heading into the season, he said: “I don’t really have no pressure. Like I said, I just go in, play and try to get as much wins as we can and do as best as you could.” Fan perception and player perception often clash, and this shows two opposing approaches to the season.
Predictions of Charlotte trading Ball are not far-fetched if the Hornets endure another losing season with little progress. Ball is one of the league’s most entertaining players and consistently posts All-Star caliber numbers. The problem is that his accolades rarely contribute to winning seasons, and health issues have limited his full potential as a rising superstar.
LaMelo’s Team Has Low Expectations
Vegas Insider lists the Charlotte Hornets’ over/under win total at 26.5, meaning oddsmakers expect them to finish with 26 or 27 victories. The Eastern Conference’s depth is weaker than ever beyond the top two teams, but even the No. 10 seed will likely need to reach the mid-30s in wins to have an outside chance at the postseason.
Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller and rookie Kon Knueppel form the young core for Charlotte entering another challenging season. There is a realistic chance Ball gets traded as the biggest chip, with the team potentially prioritizing Miller and Knueppel as long-term building blocks depending on how this year plays out.
The win projection underscores that oddsmakers don’t believe Ball can carry a flawed roster beyond 30 wins due to the past couple of seasons working against him. LaMelo must not only deliver elite scoring but also create for his teammates to help the Hornets reach their ceiling.
Lack Of Winning Hurts LaMelo’s Reputation
Last season highlighted the downfall of a good player putting up numbers on a bad team. LaMelo Ball passed the All-Star test on paper by averaging nearly 30 points per game at the time of voting. Fan support also leaned his way, with Ball ranking No. 1 among Eastern Conference backcourt players ahead of stars like Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Trae Young.
Players voted Ball highly as well, ranking him as the East’s third best guard, but he was ultimately snubbed when the media ranked him low in its third round of starter results. A lowly seventh place in media voting cost Ball an All-Star spot and proved that losing can damage a player’s career.