Charlotte Hornets 2023-24 Point Guard Preview
LaMelo Ball’s All-NBA Potential, Backup PG Battle, and New City Edition Jerseys
Listen to our point guard preview on Locked On Hornets
As we inch closer to the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, it’s time to dive into the Charlotte Hornets’ point guard position. With LaMelo Ball leading the charge and a competitive battle for the backup spot, there are plenty of reasons for optimism—and some lingering questions—about this team’s playmaking.
Can LaMelo Ball Break Into All-NBA Territory?
This season feels like a tipping point for LaMelo Ball. We all know how good he can be when healthy, and now, coming off another injury-plagued season, the question is whether he can put it all together and stay on the court. On a recent episode of Locked On Hornets, Walker and I discussed LaMelo’s ability to break into All-NBA territory this season. “I fully expect an All-Star season. I’m excited about what Melo can do this upcoming year,” Walker said, and I couldn’t agree more.
One area of LaMelo’s game that gives me hope is his improvement when driving to the basket. Last season, albeit in a limited sample, he drove 17 times per game, up from 14 the year prior, and his field goal percentage on those drives jumped from 41% to 52%. Those are All-Star-level numbers, but if he can get to the elite range of guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Luka Dončić, we’re talking All-NBA. His free throw rate also improved, but there’s still room to grow—he’s getting fouled on 6.9% of his drives, but elite guards are drawing fouls on closer to 10% of their attempts. It’s not insurmountable, but it’s the next step in his evolution.
The Backup Point Guard Battle: Tre Mann vs. Vasa Micic
With LaMelo’s injury history, depth at point guard is critical, and this season, it’s a real battle between Tre Mann and Vasa Micic for that backup role. Both bring something valuable to the table. Tre Mann had some of his best moments as a Hornet last season, especially defensively, where he held his own despite his size. He’s also improved his shot-making and finishing around the rim. As Walker pointed out on the show, “I think Trey played well defensively... He got to the rim well enough and shot well enough.”
On the other hand, Vasa Micic comes in with EuroLeague MVP credentials and is the more experienced playmaker. “You’ve got to convince Vasa that his role is there to be had,” I said on the show, noting how important it is for the coaching staff to show him he’ll be a key part of the rotation. Still, Micic’s three-point shooting needs improvement—he shot just 29% from deep last season—so that’s something to watch. Ultimately, I lean toward Tre Mann winning the battle, but it’s a tight race that could go either way.
The “What If?” Game: Kemba and Lin Back in the Fold?
We had some fun on the podcast playing a "What If?" game, imagining what would happen if the 2015-16 versions of Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin walked through a portal and joined the current roster. As we discussed, this version of Kemba hadn’t quite reached his All-Star peak yet, but he’d made a massive jump in his game, improving his three-point shooting from 30% to 37% that season.
In this scenario, LaMelo starts, but Kemba would be the ultimate backup. “I think Kemba would be the perfect guy off the bench,” I said, noting that his experience and shooting would give the Hornets a weapon in their second unit. Jeremy Lin would also bring that defensive grit and size at 6’3” and 200 pounds. While the Hornets' current depth at point guard is stronger than it’s been in years, imagining a backcourt featuring both LaMelo and Kemba gives us a glimpse into how much better the team could be with added experience and leadership.
City Edition Jerseys: A Little Too Familiar?
We got our first unofficial leak of City jerseys for NBA teams next season. If you’ve seen them, you’ve probably noticed they look a lot like the Mint City jerseys from a few seasons ago—except they now say “Charlotte” across the chest instead of “Buzz City.” On the podcast, I admitted I’m suffering from a bit of jersey fatigue, and this latest design hasn’t changed my mind. ENOUGH WITH THE JERSEYS.
“I don’t feel emotional about them dropping Buzz City,” I said, noting that while the design is clean, it feels more like a rehash than something new and exciting. Walker also chimed in, saying, “You get excited for something fresh, and then you see something you’ve already seen before.” It’s not that the jerseys are bad, but after so many redesigns in recent years, this one feels a little safe. Winning in these jerseys would definitely help them stand out more, but for now, it’s hard to get too hyped.
Let me know your thoughts on LaMelo’s All-NBA potential, the backup point guard race, and the jerseys in the comments below!
The only positive thing I can think of regarding the jerseys is that they’re are the same color scheme, so me and my kids can wear their previous buzz city mint gear and I don’t have to go out and cop any new stuff! I get it when the hornets dip into the retro 90’s Hornets throwbacks, but now we’re throwing it back to 3 years ago? I’ll call it the “Hawk Tua-ization” of trends(things get super popular for 2-3 weeks and then.. ITS OVER)