The Charlotte Hornets have multiple questions to tackle in the 2026 NBA Draft and the rest of the offseason, but one in particular is pushing LaMelo Ball’s development to the next level. He’s one of the most talented guards in the NBA, and Ball has carried the team this season. However, at this stage of his career, talent alone isn’t enough.
The highlight reels by Ball are among the most enjoyable watches of any player. Few players can match his flair and creativity with the basketball in his hands.
Yet, that’s not what gets you to the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson just reminded the league that being a closer is what truly moves the needle. He’s arguably one of the best closers in league history, and Ball has to take a page from Brunson’s playbook to evolve his game.
LaMelo Ball’s Development Starts With 1 Lesson From Jalen Brunson
Why Mid-Range Prowess Still Matters In Today’s NBA
With the modern NBA gravitating towards a higher frequency of three-point shooting than any era of basketball, the traditional mid-range shot has been put to the side. Despite that, having an overreliance on it can be detrimental.
Brunson is an elite scorer. Not only is he effective at creating his own shot, but he’s also able to do it at all three levels. The most important part of this is that he’s able to do all of this in high-leverage situations.
In Game 2, he knocked down a fadeaway jumper to tie the game with around 40 seconds left. In Game 5, he drove by Stephon Castle and hit a floater with about a minute left. He’s the player the New York Knicks always went to when the game was on the line. The three-pointer is important, but having a strong jumper in playoff situations puts you over the hump.
According to Sportico, since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data in the 1997 postseason, 77 players have taken at least 50 shots during crunch time, and Brunson has scored at the second-highest frequency of any of those players at 40.6 points per 36 minutes. The player in front of him: Michael Jordan.
While Ball doesn’t have any statistics to compare to in the postseason (because he hasn’t reached it), you can look at the regular season, which is a lower-stakes environment. Ball scored 40 points in clutch situations on 40 percent shooting, while Brunson had 116 points on 48.8 percent shooting.
That might not feel like a dramatic difference on paper, but Charlotte owns a 35.7% win percentage in clutch situations versus the Knicks’ 61.8%. While Ball has the shooting talent to blow teams out before halftime, he lacks the composure, grit, and mid-range prowess that Brunson has when the lights are bright.
LaMelo Ball’s Shot Selection Will Have To Improve
Ball has the profile to win in isolation. He generates a lot of space with his handles and footwork. He’s also an elite three-point shooter (even if he has an unorthodox shot with one leg).
Will Ball ever be the master of the mid-range dagger like Brunson is? Most likely not because that’s not his game, but better shot selection can improve his efficiency.
He’s a great free-throw shooter, shooting 89.9 percent from the charity stripe this season. Ball has to be better at drawing contact and attacking the rim to increase his free-throw attempts. Ball could also tone down on the early shot clock 30-footers. If the Hornets ever want to improve their efficiency with half-court offense, Ball needs to be encouraged to get better looks.
The average scoring margin for the 2026 NBA Finals was four points. Every possession is going to matter in the postseason when you’re playing at the highest level, so even a small increase in clutch situations can be the key difference in a win or a loss.
This is one way that Ball can make All-NBA next season.
Featured Image: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
