"50x more talented lmao and got more aura" - NBA fans flame analyst for putting Tyrese Haliburton ahead of LaMelo Ball in terms of talent
So far this season, LaMelo Ball has been a scoring machine, averaging 31.1 points per game, the second-most of any player in the league. While he's been dealing with a left calf strain that is expected to keep him sidelined for another week, Ball has shown his mettle as an elite scorer.
The way longtime NBA analyst Tim Bontemps sees things, however, LaMelo Ball isn't necessarily a more talented player than Tyrese Haliburton. On the latest episode of "The Hoop Collective," Bontemps spoke with Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon about the Top 25 Under 25 list.
During the episode, MacMahon asked whether Bontemps put Tyrese Haliburton above or below LaMelo Ball. When Bontemps said ahead, MacMahon pushed back, saying that Ball is a more talented player, but Haliburton has proven to be a more impactful player given the Pacers' success and play in recent years.
Bontemps then responded, saying:
"I'm not sure LaMelo's more talented than Haliburton."
The NBA community was quick to weigh in on the take:
"Lamelo is 50x more talented lmao and got more aura," one wrote.
"LaMelo is 10x more talented than Haliburton, not really even close… but Haliburton is a good leader who keeps his entire team in rhythm, both are immensely valuable in different ways," another added.
Others refuted Bontemps' take as well:
"Lamelo is levels passed hali," one wrote.
"LaMelo is certainly more talented than Haliburton. There are some skill sets or traits that Haliburton is better at, but when it comes to pure talent, LaMelo is the correct answer," another argued.
Looking at LaMelo Ball's stats this season, as well as updates on the Hornets star following calf strain in late November
While ESPN's Top 25 Under 25 list has been a major source for debates in the NBA community as of late, what can't be debated is LaMelo Ball's numbers this season.
While he has only played in 18 games this season, Ball is averaging a career-high in scoring with 31.1 points per game. Additionally, he's also managed to maintain his efficiency numbers from last season, shooting 43.0% from the field this year, along with 35.6% from downtown.
At the same time, Ball is also averaging 5.4 rebounds per game, a figure up slightly from his 5.1 average last season. Of course, with his increased usage rating, and his scoring output, Ball is averaging 6.9 assists per game, a figure lower than his 7.4 apg career average.
While he's been playing well this season, he's missed the Charlotte Hornets' three most recent games with a calf strain. During that time, the team has gone 0-3, bringing their current losing streak to six.
Given that the Hornets don't have a game scheduled tonight, the team hasn't submitted an injury report to NBA.com. However, given the two-week timeline that was provided by the team when Ball was first injured, he's targeted to return on Dec. 11, one week from today, unless he suffers a setback.