Why LaMelo Ball is in the perfect position for a big season

As it is The Charlotte Hornets are preparing to open the 2025-26 NBA seasonguard LaMelo Ball he seems to be stepping into the perfect alignment of personal growth and team context to execute a breakthrough campaign.

Ball, now 24, posted solid numbers during the Hornets’ five-game preseason: 17.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 54.5% from the field and 46.9% from three-on-four contests in 22.7 minutes played.

By comparison, during the 2024-25 preseason. averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and one block per game while shooting 38% from the field and 41.7% from three in four games playing about 21 minutes.
These significant gains indicate improved efficiency and decision-making, as well as increased confidence in his role.

During the 2024-25 regular season. Ball put up what remains his best stat line: 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, along with 1.1 steals, while shooting 40.5% from the field and 33.9% from three in 47 games, averaging 32 minutes per game.
These numbers confirm the Hornets’ reliance on Ball as their offensive core.

But the accompanying context has changed materially. The The Hornets added veteran guard Colin Sexton from the Utah Jazz in exchange for center Jusuf Nurkic and a second-round pick in 2030 — a move that suggests a desire to bolster the scoring in the backcourt and relieve ball-handling pressure. Meanwhile, rookie forward Kon Knueppel (No. 4 overall) joins rising wing Brandon Miller, and a healthy Miles Bridges returns to full availability. That combination gives Ball a deeper role and additional flexibility to work within a more powerful system.

LaMelo Ball had an EFFECTIVE preseason:

15.3 PPG
60.7 FG%
55.0 3P%
21.0 MPG@MELOD1P and the Hornets open their season 10/22 against Brooklyn on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/TPa9f65hL5

— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2025

The Hornets surround LaMelo Ball with a healthy core and an upgraded supporting cast ahead of 2025-26.

In addition, Charlotte enters the season healthier and more stable than it has been in recent years. The franchise, which struggled to a 19-63 record last season, finally fielded a roster with fewer injury warnings and more upside. With Ball’s preseason growth and roster upgrades, the Hornets may be poised for their best season since the 2021-22 campaign, when they won 43 games and advanced to the Play-In Tournament.

The efficiency of the ball will be enhanced if the Hornets’ supporting elements take the next step. The addition of Sexton offers an experienced strikeout; Knupel provides shooting and a versatile attack; Miller and Bridges provide dual-threat scoring and positional versatility. If these pieces come together, Ball’s playmaking and scoring could significantly raise the team’s ceiling.

Furthermore, Ball’s improved efficiency in the preseason – especially his shooting percentages – hints at a refined offensive game. The step from 38% to 54.5% in a limited sample should be taken with caution, but it signals progress toward greater shot selection and execution.

The Hornets finished the preseason 2-3 after losing to the New York Knicks 113-108 on Friday.

While preseason records carry little predictive weight, the competitive streak and Ball’s form provide encouraging signals.

Charlotte opens its regular season on Wednesday when it hosts the Brooklyn Nets at 7:00 PM ET. With Ball coming in at the top of his game and the roster better equipped around him, the Hornets appear to be in the right position for a potentially big season.