Hornets Star LaMelo Ball Named Most Overrated Player in the NBA
LaMelo Ball, the standout guard for the Charlotte Hornets, earned a dubious distinction from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, who listed him as the most overrated player in the NBA. 
Ball joined fellow players De’Aaron Fox, Austin Reaves, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Tyler Herro on the list, with Scottie Barnes, Ja Morant, and Domantas Sabonis receiving “dishonorable mentions.” However, it was the Hornets’ star who topped Buckley’s ranking.
The criticism was harsh, though Buckley acknowledged Ball’s entertaining style of play, describing him as one of the most fun players to watch with his “in-the-gym shooting range” and unique passing skills. Despite this, Buckley argued that Ball’s game offers more flash than substance, stating that his impressive stats often don’t translate into winning basketball.
“Maybe it’s the result of playing for struggling teams in Buzz City, but his box score doesn’t always reflect his ability to contribute to a winning team,” Buckley noted. He pointed out that while Ball has an offensive reputation, his numbers don’t support the hype.
Buckley conceded that Ball lacks offensive support, but emphasized that his efficiency remains a concern. While Ball averaged 25.2 points per game last season, his true shooting percentage was a career-worst 53.6%, ranking fifth-worst among players who scored 25+ points per game since 2010. Additionally, while his passing is creative, his assist-to-turnover ratio remains underwhelming, and his defensive struggles persist.
Injuries have also plagued Ball’s career, as he’s only played more than 51 games in a season once. Over the past three years, he’s played fewer games than Zion Williamson, whose on-court production has consistently been better.
“At least when Williamson is on the floor, great things tend to happen (25.1 career PER, 24.2 win shares),” Buckley said. “But unless we’re talking about viral moments or social media, Ball’s impact doesn’t show up in the same way (18.9 PER, 13.6 win shares). His name recognition may be big, but his numbers don’t back it up.”
Though Buckley’s critique is tough on the young guard, the Hornets remain committed to Ball, and they’re working to build an offense around him that could help reduce the burden and improve spacing. Ball has struggled with missed assists, as his open teammates often miss shots that would boost his assist numbers.
While his shot selection has been inconsistent, the Hornets haven’t had many other options to take over the scoring load, but that could change. If the team’s offense improves, Ball’s ranking as the NBA’s most overrated player might not last for long.
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