LaMelo Ball is fun, but is he overrated?

Williams was, undoubtedly, an exciting baller to watch, with his deep shooting, insane passing, floaters and flair. What he wasn’t, however, was a winning basketballer. It’s no surprise that the best season in Sacramento Kings history came immediately after Williams was replaced by Mike Bibby.

Every generation has their version of this type of player. In the modern game, that man is LaMelo Ball. To be sure, Ball is a far better and more talented player right now than Williams ever was. Like Williams, though, the quality of his highlight package far exceeds his ability to impact winning at this point of his career.

Ball, who came awfully close to an Eastern All-Star starting berth, puts up gaudy numbers: 28.9 points (fourth in the NBA), 5.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists (eighth in the league) and 1.4 steals (tied for 19th). He also launches shots with no conscience, with his 23.9 shots per game leading the league, a full 2.5 shots ahead of Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey. 

Ball’s 0.7 shots per minute is 0.08 ahead of second-placed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder. That difference is the same as the gap between SGA and 13th placed Steph Curry. He averages a massive 25.2 shots per 36 minutes, and he has a usage percentage of 35.8%. Ball’s efficiency, however, is sub-optimal.

Ball’s brash brand of basketball is fun to watch. At his height, the step-back three is still developing but an increasingly effective weapon despite his low release. His deep range is borderline stunning. His handle — and creativity with the ball — is elite. He can make some astonishing floaters. His passing vision is extraordinary.

Look at these highlights. Only the most curmudgeon of watchers wouldn’t admit that Ball is an entertainer.

Great moves, one and all, but is Ball really humiliating the league? Can anybody from a team with a 12-30 record really claim to be humiliating anybody else? As Chuck D once said, "Don’t believe the hype."

Ball’s ability to finish difficult floaters is uncanny, but many of those shots are taken in lieu of better opportunities, both for himself and teammates. The amount of times Ball misses open shooters is staggering. Given his otherwise wonderful passing vision, it can only be concluded that he chooses not to make the simple pass on so many occasions.

Frankly, Ball wastes possessions chasing highlights rather than winning plays. It’s almost the dictionary definition of hubris. It tells a story that for all of his undoubted talent and production, the Hornets rank in the 53rd percentile in offensive rating when he is on the floor and in the 35th percentile in half-court offense. They rank 27th in the league in offensive rating.

Defensively, despite the solid steals and boards, Ball is atrocious. He gambles relentlessly, relying on his instincts and length to create plays. The next time he gets in a solid defensive stance may be the first. That leads to reaches and, inevitably, fouls. Charlotte coach Charles Lee has already called out his point guard on this exact issue.

It would be churlish not to acknowledge the load that Ball does carry on this Hornets side. Whilst there is talent around him, it isn’t fully developed. Miles Bridges is inconsistent, Brandon Miller — now injured — is still finding his game as a sophomore, Mark Williams has spent time sidelined and Josh Green has forgotten how to shoot (not in the sense that he’s missing shots, but rather that he seems physically unable to actually fling the ball in the direction of the hoop).

Perhaps Ball feels the need to shoulder the burden for his teammates? That’s fair, though it clearly isn’t helping his side win ball games. There will come a point where Ball will need to balance his own offense with making sure that the team plays to their capacity.

With all of that said, Ball is still young, not turning 24 until deep into the offseason. He has time to mature as a playmaker and to apply himself on defense. He plays with a nonchalance that can be infuriating but is also refreshing in the buttoned-up world of professional sports. The hope here is that he can find a way to balance his natural exuberance with a sense of professionalism that gets the most out of his abundant talent.

Going back to Jason Williams, he did eventually get a ring as a part of the 2006 Miami Heat. It tells a tale that much of his extravagance was reigned in whilst on South Beach. He made telling but relatively straightforward plays to the benefit of his teammates.

Right now, Ball is the NBA’s good-stats, bad-team poster boy. There’s no reason why he couldn’t have a similar career arc to Devin Booker, who once inhabited that same space but now has multiple All-Star and All-NBA accolades to his name, as well as a conference championship. 

If he can’t find that happy middle, Ball is in danger of becoming this generation's Reggie Theus: gaudy stats and a few All-Star selections but ultimately a losing basketballer.