LaMelo Ball has proven that when healthy, he can be among the top 20 players in the NBA.

However, the 23-year-old has been struggling with injuries since being selected third in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Last year, he averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 22 games, shooting 43.3% of his field goals and 35.5% of his three-pointers.

In a recent episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop CollectiveESPN’s Tim MacMahon made a bold assessment of Ball.

MacMahon: “LaMelo has as much potential as any player in the NBA except a handful… I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can play winning basketball. I don’t know if LaMelo Ball can be the franchise player that wins. His game is pretty low-calorie… His efficiency is crap, his defense is atrocious and I don’t see a lot of evidence that the guy makes winning a priority.”

Hornets fans will likely be upset by MacMahon’s comments, but he has a lot to prove in the next few seasons.

In 184 games, Ball averaged career points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range.

In 2022, Ball participated in the All-Star Game (he played in 75 games, more than ever before in his career).

The Hornets finished last season as the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-51.

They have missed the NBA playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.