Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Charlotte Hornets are under pressure to achieve their second winning season since 2015-2016, and the availability and performance of star point guard LaMelo Ball will be paramount for the team to achieve that goal.

Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was the first domino to fall in the Hornets’ seemingly never-ending rebuild.

Charlotte expects Ball, who averaged 20 points in four NBA seasons, to be the face of the franchise for the next 10 to 15 years, but this season will show if the 22-year-old is capable of doing that.

Ball has missed large portions of all four seasons with Charlotte due to injuries. Of the 324 possible regular season games since entering the league, he has played in just 184, or about 57%.

There’s no doubt that when Ball is healthy, he’s one of the most entertaining players in the league. But since entering the league, he’s never played more than 75 of 82 regular-season games.

Charlotte made the play-in tournament in two of the four seasons Ball played for the Hornets. But those seasons ended with crushing losses to the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, respectively. Ball was virtually absent from both games, leading critics to question his ability to live in the spotlight.

Brandon Miller’s emergence as Charlotte’s best player during Ball’s absence last season puts additional pressure on the Hornets’ MIA star. Another extended absence due to injury could prompt Charlotte to trade Ball.

Charlotte has arguably its best roster since the 2015-2016 season and is hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since that season. A healthy and productive season from Ball is key to that.