The 2021-22 NBA season is on the horizon as media days and training camps are approaching on the calendar.
Before the season begins, it’s only right to kick off a new NBA campaign with player rankings, which ESPN has put together with their NBArank.
On Wednesday, players 50-26 were released, including Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball at No. 47, who makes his debut in ESPN’s NBArank.
Mike Schmitz of ESPN elaborates on Ball’s ranking:
“Ball dazzled with his magical passing ability and all-around basketball instincts during his Rookie of the Year campaign. It will be interesting to see how his body has evolved, whether he can sustain his 35.2% 3-point shooting clip and how he progresses as a finisher — he ranked in the 27th percentile on shots at the rim last season. How Ball fits alongside 11th overall pick James Bouknight, a gifted scorer who has been most effective with the ball in his hands, is also an early storyline worth monitoring. If Ball can help turn the Hornets into a true playoff contender, he’ll surely live up to the hype as one of the top under-21 players in the NBA.”
On Tuesday, ESPN released players ranked 100-51, which included fellow Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges at No. 87, Terry Rozier at No. 81, and Gordon Hayward at No. 58, as well as LaMelo’s brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, who was ranked No. 57.
In his Rookie of the Year season, LaMelo averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists per game.
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