LaMelo Ball can make every pass imaginable. Impressively, Ball ranked third in the league with an absurd 42.6 assist percentage and ninth in the league for raw assists per game. More importantly, though, Ball genuinely makes others around him better, which is a rare (yet highly valuable) skill in the modern NBA.Â
While Ball's perimeter scoring is another clear benefit, his playmaking is the number one reason the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for him. Finding a playmaker of Ball's caliber is rare in the modern NBA, and he fills a clear need for the Timberwolves.Â
During an appearance on the Jon Krawczynski Show, Timberwolves lead executive Tim Connelly discussed how playmaking is a lost art.
"I think there's so much focus on early specialization and one-on-0 development, where, like, you've got to play to learn how to pass. You can't learn how to pass. So, everybody in the NBA right now can snake dribble. Everybody can, you know, shoot in and out 3-pointers. Everyone can step back. But to be able to pass, make people better, you've got to play constantly. So, Melo, you know, he's 13, 14, playing with 18, 19 year olds. He's going to Lithuania, he's going to Australia, seeing all these different schools of basketball. Some guys can pass; he can actually playmake; he, you know, he can pass you into an open shot," Connelly said.Â
LaMelo Ball's ability to elevate his teammates is a unique skill
When looking around the league, the logic of Connelly's comments adds up. The days of traditional table setters are largely over. Every guard needs to be a scoring threat, and many of the best ones are almost primarily known for their scoring. While these scoring guards can make a variety of passes and are great players overall, few players truly make others better and uplift the team's offense like Ball does.
And even if LaMelo is a classic table setter in the mold of a John Stockton or Chris Paul, he possesses the increasingly rare ability to elevate his teammates.
There are only a few other guards with playmaking within LaMelo's tier: Tyrese Haliburton, Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and an aging James Harden come to mind. Regardless, it's clearly a rare skill. And when looking at younger players around the league, playmaking is clearly a dying skill, as Connelly said.Â
While there are some classic table setters around the league like Tre Jones, the best playmakers typically need to havesome scoring gravity to open up shots for their teammates. The combination of Ball's high basketball IQ, processing, size, and scoring makes him the complete package as a playmaker.Â
Considering this, having a playmaker of this caliber is a unique advantage. In addition to his previously mentioned elite assist numbers, Ball undeniably makes his teammates better, which is incredibly rare. Last season, Kon Knueppel shot 10.3 percent better from 3-point range, and Miles Bridges' 3-point percentage improved by 7.9 percent with LaMelo on the court. Â
Furthermore, the Charlotte Hornets were the number one offense after the turn of the calendar, and they were 11.6 points per 100 possessions better with LaMelo on the court. The numbers are clear: Ball's elite playmaking uplifts his team's offense, and again it's a highly unique skill.Â
For a Wolves squad that has lacked a natural playmaker, he should be a game-changer. He will stabilize the Wolves' offense and take the pressure off Anthony Edwards. Beyond that, his ability to make everyone around him better should help a plethora of players, including Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, and Joan Beringer. Heck, even Ant should level up as his off-ball abilities can be utilized, and he'll have more energy.Â
Overall, someone who can make his teammates better and consistently create for others is an increasingly rare skill set -- and the Timberwolves simply couldn't pass up on adding a player like this.
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