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NBA Executives Have Mixed Projections On LaMelo Ball, One Thinks He’s Overrated

The Charlotte Hornets aren’t contending anytime soon, but they can look forward to their future as they got a promising young player in LaMelo Ball who could potentially help turn the tides around and bring in some identity for the franchise.

LaMelo is a standout rookie who is creating quite a stir on social media with his all-around game and flashy passes. The third overall pick is averaging 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 45.2% shooting from the field in just 20.3 minutes of playing time.

Ball is dubbed to win this year’s ‘Rookie of the Year’, according to the recent GM survey for the 2020-21 NBA season. However, some executives still have mixed emotions over LaMelo’s potential. Speaking to HoopsHype, one former executive thinks LaMelo Ball was overrated and not the competitor that Lonzo Ball is.

Per HoopsHype:

Former NBA executive: “I thought he was overrated, to be honest. He’s not the competitor his brother (Lonzo) is. He has excellent vision, size, and ball-handling ability. He’s an inefficient scorer and a bad defender, but he could get better. I see him as kind of a Rubio type of player with a higher upside.”

Two current executives, meanwhile, were more generous with their projections. The executive coming from the Western Conference even lobbied LaMelo as a potential pre-injury Shaun Livingston-type of player.

Eastern Conference Executive: “I think he can be a high-level starter and is a potential All-Star.”

Western Conference Executive: “He could be Livingston before Shaun got hurt.”