Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has shown this pre-season how much fun he can be with the ball in his hands, something that the team drafted him for. He displayed his shooting skills including shots that only he can do, nutmegs, and crisp passes ala-Showtime Lakers.
LAMELO PUTTING ON A SHOW
🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 16, 2025
This one entertaining mf I’ll tell you that, might not win shit, but you going to be entertained lmao https://t.co/IvBa2Pyz41
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) October 16, 2025
LaMelo Ball Last night vs the Grizzlies (Pre-Season)
23 PTS (7-16 FG, 4-12 3PT, 5-5 FTs)
8 AST
5 REBS
1 STLAs I said b4, Melo is the Best PG in the NBA.. I just hope to see him play more than 60 Games this season… pic.twitter.com/YM3e4okRMJ
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) October 16, 2025
Ball showed last season that he is capable of scoring anywhere. He did that at the start of the season when he averaged 30 points in the first two months until he was struck by another injury.
He can score but there’s still one knock in his game, according to analyst Kendrick Perkins. The 14-season NBA veteran praised Ball for his wide offensive arsenal but he challenged him to be more committed when it comes to defense.
“This is going to be one of those years where he needs to get them into the postseason,” he said in his show.
“If they don’t, they need to sit down at the roundtable and work out if they need to part ways. But let’s live in the moment, we’re watching a box-office talented young man in LaMelo Ball.
“Here’s the thing, he has to be a better defender. Averaging a little bit over three fouls a game.”
LaMelo Ball defense better than 2023 DPOY?
Perkins is not totally out on Ball’s defense. To drive his point, he emphasized that the Hornets franchise player is not the worst defender in the league. Ball is still better than New York Knicks’ Karl Anthony-Towns and Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr.
“The only two people who were worse than him were Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaren Jackson Jr,” he went on.
“As a leader, as a franchise player you need to take ownership and defend. For him and the Hornets their relationship is on the clock. The East is wide open and they need to get in the playoffs, and it might be through the Play-In.”
There’s something interesting in this take. KAT is not known for his defense but JJJ was once a Defensive Player of the Year, winning it in 2023.
Perkins is probably just doing a hot take again, something that most sports media personalities use to get engagement.
As for Ball’s target, he is not exactly feeling pressured to deliver. He said he is about taking everything day by day.
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