Strengths: Playmaking
The most obvious strength of LaMelo Ball’s game is his playmaking, rather than playing against other teenagers in college Ball was playing against men, with actual defensive structures and against coaches who coach NBA-level defenses.
If you only take away one thing from this piece let it be this — LaMelo Ball could be considered one of the best passers this generation, alongside Luka Doncic, Ben Simmons, and Trae Young.
Pick and roll
LaMelo Ball’s passing is broken down into three categories: the improvisational, the full court, and the pick and roll. Starting with the pick and roll, Ball has already mastered how to use screens and places the ball in such a way that it will be a layup or a trip to the free throw line.
Ball showed that if you put him with screeners, he will make the best of it. His ability in the pick and roll would translate in the NBA magnificently — and it doesn’t have to be with big lumbering centers, the way he’s finding players’ pockets means it’s going to work even if the guy screening him is 6’8”.
The pick and roll is a staple of the NBA’s offenses. In the 2019-20 season, Trae Young and Damian Lillard individually ran 900 or more pick and rolls, with Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, and Chris Paul all running 500 or more.
If your team needs a pick and roll ball handler LaMelo Ball is your guy.
Playmaker
Like his brother Lonzo Ball, LaMelo is an exceptional outlet passer and improvisational playmaker. He creates something out of nothing more often than not with his passing — that’s why he’s so highly touted as a prospect.
Ball hits his targets right on the money and he is seeing plays unfold before the defense is or even the guy he’s passing to figures out what’s happening.
Note: This collection of passes is longer than I generally prefer to include but if you haven’t seen the highlight reels, this is a version without all the music and rapid cuts — I recommend watching this collection of jaw-dropping passes.
In these situations, the skill set Ball has almost guaranteed a score or a decent shot attempt, in some of these possessions he’s creating offensive in otherwise dead plays while the other team brings up the ball. On a team with a good defense Ball could lurk — ready to pounce on any fast-break opportunity, similarly to what Golden State Warriors do with Draymond Green.
LaMelo makes a lot of his assist from driving and collapsing the defense, finding cutters and shooters. The threat of him driving is real, so let’s look into what he does well as a finisher.