Efficiency Doesn't Matter for Charlotte Hornets Star LaMelo Ball

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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has faced questions about his efficiency and shooting since entering the NBA, but the advanced stats show that his impact goes beyond just his shooting percentages. Despite career-low field goal and three-point percentages this season, Ball has the best offensive rating on the team and is among the league leaders in that metric. His ability to space the floor and create opportunities for his teammates makes him a valuable offensive player, even when his own shots aren't falling.

Why it matters

LaMelo Ball's unconventional style of play challenges the traditional notion that efficiency is the most important factor for NBA stars. His ability to impact the game in other ways, like creating open looks for teammates and forcing defenses to account for his shooting range, demonstrates that there are multiple paths to offensive success in the modern NBA.

The details

Ball is shooting just 40.1% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range this season, both career lows. However, his offensive rating of 123.1 is the best on the Hornets and ranks among the top players in the league. His on/off split shows the Hornets are 14.5 points better when he's on the floor, despite his poor shooting percentages. Experts believe Ball's willingness to shoot from anywhere on the floor, even when the chances of the shot going in are low, puts a huge strain on opposing defenses and opens up opportunities for his teammates.

• LaMelo Ball has played 59.4% of the possible games since he was drafted in 2020.