Can we have real talk about LaMelo Ball

[jasonxxx102]

Lamelo just embodies the AAU style he grew up playing

[Optms]

OP is being dramatic.

Worst player ever? Really? Okay.

[Prestige]

He’s one of those players that need to be in an environment like the Heat or Spurs so they can refine his game and give him some maturity. And he has to want it himself. Right now it seem like he’s happy to play in the NBA and be known as a ‘star’, and then go home to his mansion.

[tamaraw08]

OP is being dramatic.

Worst player ever? Really? Okay.

OP said “best worst player”, I had to read too to make sure I understand.

It’s just frustrating to see a very talented player wasting his gifts because he choose to make dumb/selfish decisions that is not really helping his team.

[NoStatsGuy]

they need to hire thibs

[og15]

A perfect example of how AAU culture can destroy a talented player.

Him and his brother both came out off the same development of dad though, and Lonzo is a guy who plays winning basketball even though he's not a star

[God Squad]

hornets cant get that scorer beside him so he can be a great 2nd option...which is who he is...you see the numbers but he just never wins and misses a lot of games

Brandon Miller is supposed to be the other scorer. It just hasn't worked out.

[hauntedcomputer]

Don't worry, we will get four or five more years of people making excuses for this guy like he's not the problem.

When you decide the wrong guy is your franchise guy, you basically lose a decade as a team.

Please do not put him on a "good team," especially the Spurs. Why ruin Wemby, too?

[jokeboy86]

His own father said he’s not a winning player so there’s that.

[shrink]

Leading up to the final moments of the 2020 draft, Gersson Rosas was looking to trade the #1 pick, likely for #2 or #3, to get LaMelo. Imagine how that choice would have continued to keep the horrible Wolves franchise in the cellar.

Leading up to the draft, LaMelo didn’t get to be a top three pick without working hard - same with Ant. Sometimes I wonder how much Connelly helped Ant’s development with the Gobert trade to immediately put him into winning situations, while the Hornets spun their wheels in the lottery? Did that affect LaMelo’s trajectory, or are his motivation problems all something internal? Or if veteran GSW had drafted Ball over Wiseman, would Ball be something different today?

[Wolveswin]

LaMelo is my PG target #1 for Wolves. Wolves need. PG badly - and Melo is best available in their price point.

To 3rd team: Randle/DDV

To Hornets: Dilly/Assets from 3rd team

To Wolves: LaMelo/Filler

Let Conley mentor LaMelo, Edwards yell at him to play D, and Melo play on a winning team. Melo can lob assists to Gobert and be teams true 2nd fiddle.

[Loneshot]

I'm really hoping the Spurs have such a log jam at the guard positions that somehow, someway, Lamelo ends up on the Spurs. As already stated, his ability is near infinite, but he's not the type of player to make a losing team a winner. He's an excellent piece on any team, but he will match the discipline of the team.

[sikma42]

It’s wild how we call people lazy. First RealGM thought he wasn’t even a NBA caliber point guard. Now it’s he’s isn’t that guy.

If you don’t like someone, the goal post will keep getting moved til eventually someone can’t meet it.

Newsflash, Lamelo worked his ass off to become this good. He isn’t lazy.


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[Hornet Mania]

He just had one of the best two-way games of his entire career, so this is an oddly timed thread.

He plays undisciplined, no doubt about it, but the talent is obvious. He also has had a clear impact on the Hornets ability to win games (Charlotte was 3-32 in games Ball missed last season) and field a respectable offense despite having few other weapons. In reality his biggest issue thus far hasn't even been play style or results on the floor, those have been alright if not ideal, it's been his ability to be available.

I'll simply echo what others have said that he would benefit from having a better player beside him and/or more forceful leadership to this point in his career, it would have given him much needed direction.On the positive side he's not a malcontent by any means, Charles Lee has asked him to put special focus into defense this year and so far (caveat, just two games) he's done that in a noticeable way.

[Pattycakes]

The bobcats have done absolutely nothing to improve outside of him.

[Wolfgang630]

Can’t stand him. So damn immature

[firedavidkahn]

Lamelo is so incredibly talented but there is just something off about the guy. He isn't a winning player yet but he absolutely could be. He just treats the game like backyard basketball.

If he ever locks in and takes the game seriously he can absolutely be a top player in this league but he just plays "dumb" is the best way I can describe it.

[GoBobs]

This reminds me of all the people that said Jordan was a great individual player, but his style would never win.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/16m0h8v/how_criticized_was_michael_jordan_before_winning/

Since Drafting LaMelo the Hornets have spent 1st round picks on:

James Bouknight
Kai Jones
Mark WIlliams
Brandon Miller (who was hurt all of last year)
Tidjane Salaun

They also sold off vets PJ Washington, Terry Rozier, Mark Williams, Nick Richards to get a bunch of extra picks in the next few years. In the five years he has played for the Hornets the biggest free agent signing has been Mason Plumlee.

None of that stuff is LaMelo's fault. He has never complained or asked to go somewhere the grass is La-Greener.

OP says 24 year old player who has more talent than anyone he has ever seen can't possibly mature and play a more efficient game...

He has played 2 great games out of 2 games so far this season.

Hatez gonna hate. LMAO

If you don't got no Haterz you not poppin

[jbk1234]

At some point the Hornets need to hire an assistant coach that LeMelo actually respects and will listen to. Make LeMelo part of the interview process with the final candidates and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, it's probably time to move on.

[HMFFL]

At some point the Hornets need to hire an assistant coach that LeMelo actually respects and will listen to. Make LeMelo part of the interview process with the final candidates and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, it's probably time to move on.

Or just trade Melo since it's eventually going to happen.