Since drafting LaMelo Ball third overall in 2020, the Charlotte Hornets have enjoyed only one winning season and have yet to make the playoffs. Ball, even before he won Rookie of the Year, was criticized for his immaturity.
As his NBA career progresses, those concerns have not been alleviated, and his injury woes have only grown with each season.
Ball has played in 55 or more games only once, although when he’s healthy, he is an elite passer and scoring guard and could be the centerpiece of a playoff team. He has simply been unreliable.
In an effort to get the most from their franchise guard, the Hornets are turning to an overlooked veteran.
Collin Sexton Will Be Assigned With Maximizing LaMelo Ball
This offseason, the Hornets traded center Jusuf Nurkic to the Utah Jazz for Collin Sexton. Like Ball, the eighth-year guard was drafted with the hopes that he could become a franchise floor general, although the Cleveland Cavaliers eventually flipped him to Salt Lake City in the Donovan Mitchell trade.
In his last two seasons with the Jazz, Sexton averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and shot 39.9% from 3-point range for a woeful Utah team. The Hornets haven’t fared much better in recent years, although Sexton is slotting into a new role: veteran leader.
“The Hornets want to see Ball take a leap in becoming more of a leader,” reported The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone on September 20. ” [Charles] Lee believes the addition of Collin Sexton will help with that. Sexton, Lee says, elevates the whole environment, and Sexton and Ball are really building a rapport and talking up a storm together a lot after practice.”
If Ball can step up as the true leader of a team brimming with young talent, it’s safe to say that the Hornets can finally enter the playoff race, although Ball’s leadership is not the only concern.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Collin Sexton #2 of the Utah Jazz reacts after a three-point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Hornets Need LaMelo Ball to Stay Healthy
According to Boone, Ball has impressed this summer in the weight room, which is a fantastic sign. However, he has not remained healthy since his All-Star nod in the 2021-22 season.
Last year, Ball averaged an elite 31.1 points and 6.9 assists in his first 18 games before injuries caught up to him, and both he and the team would take a step back to finish the season. While his leadership might have improved under Sexton, he needs to stay healthy.
Much like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and Cade Cunningham, Ball has battled injuries early in his career, which have sidelined his entire team’s competitive ability. The Hornet’s success will start and end with Ball.
Sexton also has an extensive injury history, and with young wings like Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Tidjane Salaun all brimming with potential, the Hornets need a reliable guard to get the most out of them.
With improved leadership and durability, there’s no reason to think Ball can’t rise to the occasion.
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