LaMelo Ball expects to improve significantly from his top-50 ranking

With the regular season just around the corner, more and more media outlets have released or updated their player rankings. Some of them have fascinating perspectives, especially when read from the perspective of a Charlotte Hornets fan.

For example, if an analyst ranked Brandon Miller behind 122 other players in the league, that could be borderline disrespectful. The new second-year pro still has a long way to go to reach his potential, but he definitely shouldn't be considered a top-100 player in the league today.

At least there seems to be a consensus among some experts about LaMelo Ball's placement in the rankings, although he could likely be higher.

Various networks, namely ESPN, CBS, The Ringer, HoopsHype and The Action Network, have ranked Ball between No. 41 and No. 58. So it looks like the Hornets star will enter the 2024-25 season as one of the league's best underrated players.

The experts agree that the 2021 Rookie of the Year has incredible offensive talent and should be a staple on highlight reels for years to come. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from proving that he belongs among the NBA's elite over the last two years.

However, it's worth noting that Ball has already made an All-Star team, meaning he was one of the top 12 players in the Eastern Conference at one point. He can likely return to that status if he manages to stay healthy.

So far in the preseason, the California native has offered glimpses of his former self. He had been one of Charlotte's most valuable players before he sat out a contest and struggled off the field in the team's final game against the New York Knicks.

Still, Hornets fans will be pleased to know that the cornerstone of the franchise appears to be taking shape. You can also probably expect him to take his game to the next level, as the Hornets' projected offensive philosophy fits his skill set perfectly.

Additionally, it looks like Ball has accepted coach Charles Lee's message that Charlotte needs to place more emphasis on defense.

This area of ​​the young general's game was a magnet for criticism. Given that he has the tools to excel in this area, it wouldn't be surprising to see him become a premier two-way point guard. If that happens, Ball should make an even more significant jump in the rankings by the end of the 2024-25 season.