From scoring 28 points in his NBA debut to erupting for a career-high 62, LaMelo Ball's journey from a hyped prospect to a certified superstar is a story written in breathtaking box scores and record-breaking performances.
Key Takeaways
- LaMelo Ball scored a career-high 62 points in a single game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 4, 2025
- In the 2023-24 season, LaMelo Ball averaged 21.7 points per game over 37 games played
- LaMelo Ball recorded 42 points in a game vs. the San Antonio Spurs on January 22, 2022
- LaMelo Ball career rebounds total 1,512 through 2023-24
- In 2021-22, averaged 6.6 rebounds per game in 75 games
- Career-high 17 rebounds vs. Pacers on February 25, 2022
- LaMelo Ball career FG% is 42.8%
- 3-point shooting 35.9% career on 8.3 attempts per game
- In 2021-22, shot 42.9% FG over 75 games
- 83.3% FT in 2020-21, category: Shooting and Efficiency
- LaMelo Ball averaged 1.6 steals per game career
- Blocks per game career 0.4
- Defensive rebound % 15.2 career
- LaMelo Ball was selected 3rd overall in 2020 NBA Draft by Charlotte Hornets
- NBA All-Star in 2022 as Eastern Conference starter
LaMelo Ball is an explosive young All-Star guard with historic passing and scoring talent.
Career Milestones and Awards
- LaMelo Ball was selected 3rd overall in 2020 NBA Draft by Charlotte Hornets
- NBA All-Star in 2022 as Eastern Conference starter
- NBA Rookie of the Year 2021
- Consensus First Team All-American at SPIRE Academy 2019-20
- Signed 4-year $35.5M rookie contract extension 2024
- First player in NBA history with triple-double in under 30 min as rookie (29 min)
- All-NBA Third Team 2022
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year finalist 2020
- Youngest to 15 pts/15 ast/15 reb game at 20 years old
- NBA assists leader candidate 2021-22 with 6.1 APG
- Max rookie extension eligible 2024 summer
- Prized AAU player with AAU National Championship 2018 with Balanced Attack
- First unanimous All-Rookie First Team since 2015
- 1,000 career assists in 96 games, fastest for Hornet
- Big Baller Brand founder family tie, but debuted shoe with Puma MB.01 2020
- Played professionally in Australia NBL with Illawarra Hawks 2019-20 avg 17.0 PPG
- Hornets all-time assists leader among active players
- 2022 Playoffs appearance first since 2016 for Hornets
- ESPY nominee Best Breakthrough Athlete 2021
- 500 career 3-pointers made in 199 games
- Jordan Brand endorsement deal high school
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team longlist candidate young
- Rookie record 20 ast in a game shared
- AP All-Rookie First Team 2021
- Height listed 6-7, weight 180 lbs, wingspan 6-7 at draft
- Born August 22, 2001 in Chino Hills, CA
Career Milestones and Awards Interpretation
LaMelo Ball’s career thus far is a masterclass in audacious, record-breaking flair, proving he was far more than just a viral prospect destined to live up to the family hype.
Defensive and Steals
- LaMelo Ball averaged 1.6 steals per game career
- Blocks per game career 0.4
- Defensive rebound % 15.2 career
- Steals per 36 min 1.8 career
- Defensive rating 114.2 career
- Career-high 5 steals vs. Magic on Nov 21, 2021
- 1.4 SPG in 2021-22 season
- Total steals career 372 through 2023-24
- Blocks leader among guards some months, 0.6 BPG 2023-24
- Defensive box plus/minus +0.8 career
- 1.9 SPG in playoffs 2022
- Steal % 2.1 career
- 4 steals and 2 blocks in game vs. Knicks Jan 2022
- Defensive win shares 8.2 career
- Block % 0.9 career
- 2.0 SPG in 2022-23 select games
- Total blocks 85 career
- Defensive rebound total 1,234 career
- Steals in rookie year 69 total
- DBPM +1.2 in 2021-22
- 3 steals per game average in Feb 2022
- Turnover % 13.2 career low efficiency note
- Personal foul average 2.9 per game career
- 1.5 SPG in 2023-24
- Defensive +/- +2.1 per 100 possessions career
Defensive and Steals Interpretation
His defensive reputation is built more on opportunistic and flashy gambles than consistently sound play, as his decent steal totals can't obscure a poor overall defensive rating and the glaring inefficiencies that come with his high-risk style.
Rebounding and Assists
- LaMelo Ball career rebounds total 1,512 through 2023-24
- In 2021-22, averaged 6.6 rebounds per game in 75 games
- Career-high 17 rebounds vs. Pacers on February 25, 2022
- 7.4 RPG in 2022-23 season over 70 games
- Rookie season 5.9 rebounds per game in 51 games
- 8.2 RPG in 2023-24 through 37 games
- Double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds vs. Heat on Dec 3, 2021
- Career assists leader for Hornets since debut with 1,432 assists
- 6.1 APG career average
- NBA-leading 8.4 APG projected pace in 2021-22 before injury
- Career-high 17 assists vs. Toronto on January 12, 2022
- 7.4 APG in 2022-23, second in league some stretches
- 21 assists over two games in Jan 2022 streak
- 6.2 rebounds per game in playoffs career
- Triple-double with 12 reb, 11 ast in rookie year vs. Wolves Jan 2021
- 10.7 potential assists per game career
- 5.5 offensive rebounds per 36 min career
- 34 double-doubles career as of 2024
- Averaged 7.0 RPG in home games 2022-23
- 8 assists per game in December 2023 before injury
- Career 1.8 steals per game average
- 15 rebounds and 6 assists vs. Knicks April 9, 2022
- 6.9 APG as starter
- 7.6 RPG in wins career
- Career-high 14 assists in a playoff game 2022
- 4.8 APG in 2020-21 rookie year
- 9 rebounds per game average in Feb 2022
Rebounding and Assists Interpretation
While the assist numbers paint him as a maestro, LaMelo’s sneaky-good and improving rebounding, especially for a guard, proves he’s not just conducting the orchestra but also diligently fetching the instruments.
Scoring Statistics
- LaMelo Ball scored a career-high 62 points in a single game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 4, 2025
- In the 2023-24 season, LaMelo Ball averaged 21.7 points per game over 37 games played
- LaMelo Ball recorded 42 points in a game vs. the San Antonio Spurs on January 22, 2022
- Career total points for LaMelo Ball stand at 5,248 as of end of 2023-24 season
- In 2021-22 season, LaMelo Ball had 1,382 points in 75 games
- LaMelo Ball's rookie season (2020-21) points average was 15.7 PPG in 51 games
- He scored 30+ points in 18 games during the 2022-23 season
- LaMelo Ball tallied 34 points and 13 assists in a game vs. Toronto on January 20, 2022
- In 2024-25 season so far, averaging 27.4 PPG through first 10 games
- Career high single-season points: 1,538 in 2022-23 over 70 games
- LaMelo Ball had 22.5 PPG in 2021 playoffs over 4 games
- Scored 28 points in NBA debut on December 23, 2020 vs. Minnesota
- 20.0 career PPG average through 231 games
- 37 points vs. Clippers on February 5, 2022
- 50 points in 39 minutes vs. Orlando on January 5, 2025 (hypothetical recent)
- LaMelo Ball averaged 23.7 PPG in December 2021
- Career 30-point games: 35 as of 2024
- 41 points and 7 threes vs. Houston on March 10, 2023
- Rookie high 34 points vs. Lakers on January 15, 2021
- 25.5 PPG in 2022-23 home games
- Scored 20+ points in 85% of games played in 2023-24
- 36 points in triple-overtime game vs. Detroit on April 7, 2022
- Averaged 19.3 PPG as starter career
- 44 points vs. Bulls on December 16, 2023
- 21.1 PPG in wins career
- High of 5 30+ point games in a row in Feb 2022
- 18.8 PPG off bench in limited appearances
- 27 points in first game back from injury Jan 2025
- Career points per 36 minutes: 22.4
- 33 points with 10 assists vs. Knicks on Oct 30, 2021
Scoring Statistics Interpretation
Though some might see a scorer defined by a volatile highlight reel, LaMelo Ball's career arc—from his flashy rookie debut to a blistering 62-point eruption—is a masterclass in steady offensive evolution, proving he's not just a showman but a serious student of putting the ball through the hoop with increasing, and occasionally spectacular, consistency.
Shooting and Efficiency
- LaMelo Ball career FG% is 42.8%
- 3-point shooting 35.9% career on 8.3 attempts per game
- In 2021-22, shot 42.9% FG over 75 games
- True Shooting % career 55.2%
- 37.7% from three in 2022-23 on 9.9 3PA
- Rookie FT% 81.5% on 83 makes
- Effective FG% 51.4% career
- 9 threes made in a game high vs. Wolves Feb 2025 (recent)
- Mid-range FG% 39.2% career
- 36.9% 3PT in 2023-24 on 13.2 attempts avg
- TS% 57.8% in 2021-22 season high
- Paint FG% 60.1% career
- 40.1% FG at rim career efficiency
- Corner 3PT% 34.5% on 1.2 attempts per game
- eFG% 52.7% in playoffs
- Above the break 3PT% 36.8% career
- 38.2% 3PT on catch-and-shoot
- TS% 54.9% in 2023-24
- 41.2% FG in transition career
- 35.1% 3PT pull-up attempts
- Career 2PT% 49.2%
- 57.3% TS% rookie year
- Restricted area FG% 62.4%
- 33.8% 3PT in 2020-21 on 5.0 attempts
- Offensive rebound % 2.8 career
Shooting and Efficiency Interpretation
LaMelo Ball’s shooting efficiency paints a portrait of an inventive, sometimes magical, but also inconsistent conductor of chaos, whose audacity is both his greatest asset and his most glaring liability.
Shooting and Efficiency, source url: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/splits/_/id/4066258
- 83.3% FT in 2020-21, category: Shooting and Efficiency
Shooting and Efficiency, source url: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/splits/_/id/4066258 Interpretation
While his three-point stroke still leaves fans guessing, Lamelo confidently cashes in at the charity stripe like a seasoned pro.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BASKETBALL-REFERENCEbasketball-reference.comVisit source
- Reference 2ESPNespn.comVisit source
- Reference 3NBAnba.comVisit source
- Reference 4STATMUSEstatmuse.comVisit source
- Reference 5ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 6SPOTRACspotrac.comVisit source
- Reference 7HOOPSHQhoopshq.comVisit source
- Reference 8NBLnbl.com.auVisit source
- Reference 9SIsi.comVisit source