LaMelo Ball is preparing to enter his sixth season with the Charlotte Hornets. Despite delivering a stellar performance throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Ball’s efforts weren’t enough to lift the team higher in the standings. The Hornets wrapped up the season ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference, managing to win only 19 regular-season games during Ball’s fifth year with the franchise.
The upcoming NBA Draft holds significant importance as the Hornets look to rebuild and strengthen their roster. With the franchise in need of a reliable young core to support Ball, this year’s lottery is a crucial opportunity. However, a recent development has cast a shadow over their draft plans.
According to a report by Mike Lacett, one of the projected draft lottery prospects has declined to work out for the Hornets. The player reportedly does not want to play alongside LaMelo Ball, which led him to opt out of any pre-draft activity with the franchise.
One draft lottery prospect reportedly refused to work out with the Hornets because he didn’t want to play with LaMelo Ball, per @mikelacett pic.twitter.com/g38BNB1QiN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 19, 2025
The specific reason behind this decision remains unclear. However, it would be unfair to place the blame on Ball for either the Hornets’ underwhelming season or the draft prospect’s refusal. In fact, Ball posted the best numbers of his career this season, averaging 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
LaMelo Ball was drafted by Charlotte as the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. While the team has struggled in recent years, Ball continues to prove himself as a rising star and a cornerstone for the franchise’s future.
LaVar Ball Urges Clippers To Trade For LaMelo Ball, Lonzo, And LiAngelo To Win Title
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LaVar Ball is back in the spotlight with another bold claim. This time, he urged the Los Angeles Clippers to go all-in on the Ball brothers if they truly want to win an NBA championship. In a recent interview, the outspoken father laid out his vision for a title-contending team built around LaMelo Ball, Lonzo Ball, and LiAngelo Ball.
“Everyone’s trying to make these trades. Melo should be over here. Melo should be over here. I don’t care where you put Melo. But what I do tell you, if you put him with his brother, he would go back to his original spot, which is the two, which you are trying to make him a two anyway. He loves to score. But the only person he’ll move over from the one spot is his brother Lonzo. Get Lonzo and Melo and Gelo,” LaVar said.
Such a move might seem far-fetched to many NBA fans and executives. But LaVar Ball has never been shy about promoting his sons as a package deal. Whether or not the Clippers or any team would consider such a gamble remains to be seen.
Also Read: Social Media Has Plenty Of Jokes About LiAngelo Ball As He Trains With Brothers Lonzo And LaMelo
