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LaMelo Ball

Minnesota Timberwolves · Guard · 6′7″ 180 lb · age 25 · 7th season

16.0 ptsPTS · #73
2.7 rebREB · #184
6.3 astAST · #16
22.7 minMIN · #154

3 games this season

Availability

Tonight @ CLE

Not listed official report not submitted yet

Lineups not confirmed yet

Teammates out

Recent changes

  • Oct 21Lineupmoved into the starting lineup vs MIA
  • Oct 16Lineupmoved out of the starting lineup vs CHI (preseason)

Lines for Tonight

DraftKings · · game preview →
StatLineAvgLast 5
Points19.5 pts16.0 pts16.0 pts
Rebounds4.5 reb2.7 reb2.7 reb
Assists7.5 ast6.3 ast6.3 ast
3PM3.5 3PM3.7 3PM3.7 3PM
Pts+Reb+Ast32.5 pts+reb+ast25.0 pts+reb+ast25.0 pts+reb+ast

Over rates and minutes projection: turn on Prediction tools.

Season form

3 games this season
Threes3.7 3PM#10 in the league
FG%42.1%#109 in the league
3P%42.3%#72 in the league
FT%71.4%#104 in the league

Starts 3 of 3 games · 6th on MIN in minutes · Rotation role

21
12
15

Bars: minutes in his last 3 games · numbers: points

Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.

Every situation, with four seasons of history →

What's being said

60 items · 16 sources this season
  • Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective host · Report · name not confirmed around the league

    Charlotte beat Miami without Kon Knueppel or Coby White. A host also said 'Lamello LaMelo Ball.

    “Chaotic NBA Opening Week Reaction: Key Injuries & New Contenders? + Major Beef” at 37:29 · listen ↗

  • Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 2 points ·
    • Dave DuFour: The Timberwolves are 3-0. Ball and Rudy Gobert have shown good synergy. at 33:35
    • S said Minnesota is No. 1 in three-point percentage but expects them to cool down. S and Dave see LaMelo Ball playing defense as a revelation. at 35:57

    “Jalen Williams Suffers Devastating Injury + Miami Slides in Power Rankings” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Wolves · 6 points ·
    • Jack Borman: LaMelo Ball picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter. He got a third roughly 48 seconds into his second-quarter stint and had to sit, playing only about four and a half minutes in the first half. at 11:17
    • Jack Borman: After LaMelo Ball's two quick fouls, Chris Finch left him in for a few minutes, and Ball hit a couple of threes. This is the host's description of the decision, not a quote from Finch. at 6:06
    • Jack Borman: Turning point: with LaMelo Ball back to start the second half, the Wolves went on a 22-6 run that turned an 8-point lead into a 24-point lead. Toronto had made 7 of its last 10 threes to close the first half. at 11:57
    • Jack Borman: During the run, LaMelo Ball had 3 assists, two of them lobs: one to McDaniels and one from near half court to Joan Beringer. The host thought one lob went to Shannon but said he couldn't remember. at 12:07
    • Jack Borman: The host wondered why the Charlotte Hornets thought it was right to get rid of LaMelo Ball, which implies Ball came from Charlotte. No details of the move are given. at 14:16
    • Jack Borman: The host saw a lively locker room himself: Clark and Shannon arguing about Big Ten football, Ball and Clark trading Southern California high school stories, and Edwards joining fantasy-football chirping. He said it did not happen the same way last year. at 19:30

    “WOLVES POSTCAST: Timberwolves DOMINATE Raptors 117-94 in Home Opener | INSTANT REACTION” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Raptors · Analysis · wording unclear in audio around the league

    Dwayne said Toronto should have attacked while LaMelo Ball was in early foul trouble and barely played in the first half.

    “RAPTORS POSTCAST: Raps and Scottie Barnes NO-SHOW vs. Timberwolves Without Kawhi Leonard” at 12:33 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Hornets host · Opinion · around the league

    The host says it is not panic time; trading LaMelo Ball was not expected to make the team immediately better or win a playoff series.

    “Hornets have HISTORIC Loss | Brandon Miller STRUGGLES | Should We PANIC?” at 27:15 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 2 points ·
    • Minnesota hit 14 threes against Miami in a game that became a blowout. The worst team mark last year was the Kings' 10.3. at 1:17:35
    • The Heat could only really attack Anthony Edwards when LaMelo was on the bench, and the host suggests Edwards is seeing more single coverage. Jaden McDaniels has looked pretty good. at 1:19:18

    “The 2026-27 NBA Overreactions Draft!” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Wolves · 6 points ·
    • At the end of the first quarter and in another second-quarter stretch, neither Anthony Edwards nor LaMelo Ball was on the floor. The host says the non-Ball minutes were pretty decent and that the Wolves did it by playing fast. at 3:26
    • Chris Finch kept LaMelo Ball in the game after his fourth foul, which the host thinks came in the third quarter, and Ball did not commit another. at 17:47
    • He shot "four or five" from three. The Wolves won by 23. at 7:38
    • Jack Borman (reported): Jack Borman posted on X that the Wolves scored 58 points in LaMelo Ball's roughly 17 minutes, and that Ball scored or assisted on 34 of them. Borman also posted that the Wolves shot 81% at the rim with Ball on the floor versus 50% with him off, and took 55% of their shots at the rim with him on. at 8:35
    • The host argues that a healthy LaMelo Ball on the floor is "a walking top 10" offense, consistent with his late-season play for Charlotte last year. at 10:14
    • Anthony Edwards ("Ant") and LaMelo Ball each had only one rebound. The host says the team needs more rebounding from both going forward. at 30:44

    “Minnesota Timberwolves DOMINATE Toronto Raptors, Remain Unbeaten | Another Offensive Barrage From Wolves” · listen ↗

  • Podcast KG Certified · 3 points ·
    • Anthony Edwards dropped 45 and 10 with nine threes in Miami on opening night, after a public 'we don't fuck with y'all' message alongside teammate LaMelo. at 57:43
    • LaMelo Ball put up 21-6 in the opener. The host thinks Minnesota has a really good chance with LaMelo there. at 58:03
    • A host thinks people underestimate how LaMelo will help Ant: getting Ant into spots so he doesn't always have to initiate. The host compares it to Kon Knueppel just catching and shooting. at 58:59

    “Ant & LaMelo Look Dangerous, LeBron Takes On Embiid and KG Believes in Luka’s Lakers | KG CERTIFIED” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Magic · 2 points ·
    • Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball combined to shoot 9-for-36 for 27 points; the host says the Magic kept Minnesota's stars in check. at 5:24
    • The host questions Sean Sweeney's matchup choices of Jalen Suggs on Anthony Edwards and Franz Wagner on LaMelo Ball. He thinks you need size on Edwards, who got downhill, drew help and collapsed the paint, though he says the Magic defended Edwards pretty well in a lot of ways. at 30:21

    “WARNING SIGNS: Orlando Magic struggle to PIECE team together, fall to 0-2 in opening homestand” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Wolves · 4 points ·
    • Staggering: LaMelo Ball ran with the bench in the first half and Anthony Edwards did in the second half. Jack likes the staggering. at 6:10
    • Jack's view of roles: Edwards and LaMelo are the stars, with some combination of Dosunmu, Jaden, Rudy and Kuminga doing the little things. at 9:34
    • Biggest takeaway after two games: the offense flows and the ball moves much more easily with LaMelo Ball running it than in previous seasons. at 18:28
    • Ayo Dosunmu and TJ have both played well off LaMelo and as the main ball handlers. at 19:42

    “WOLVES POSTCAST: T-Wolves CRUISE PAST ORLANDO MAGIC In Total Team Effort, 115-93” · listen ↗

  • Story ESPN · Article ·

    Hornets blown out by Hawks 128-81 in first game home without LaMelo Ball, booed by sellout crowd

    source ↗

  • Podcast The Mismatch host · Report · around the league

    Against Miami, Anthony Edwards got whatever he wanted. So far he has played at his best next to LaMelo, and both had strong games.

    “The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” at 21:10 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective host · Analysis · around the league

    Rudy Gobert is grabbing rebounds and quickly heaving outlets to start the break and get the ball to LaMelo and Ant.

    “Luka Gets Called Out As Lakers Dominate + Who Made A Game 1 Statement?” at 35:13 · listen ↗

  • Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Report · around the league

    Edwards and LaMelo Ball carved up the Heat defense on opening night. A host thinks Ball is a perfect complement to Edwards.

    “The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 20:54 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Wolves · 6 points ·
    • LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards went a combined 14 of 30 from three against Miami. Edwards scored 45 points. at 2:07
    • The host describes the regular starting lineup as the core four plus Jonathan Kuminga. The small-ball lineup is the core four plus Ayo Dosunmu, whom he assumes is the sixth man. at 2:43
    • LaMelo Ball on the bench, Miami began blitzing Edwards to get the ball out of his hands, and Edwards responded by making difficult shots. at 5:15
    • Danny Chow (The Ringer) (reported): Ringer stat: Edwards and Ball were among the five most prolific pull-up three-point shooters last season. Only two duos have ranked that high since 2013-14 (Harden/Paul, Lillard/McCollum), and both of those teams had no worse than the second-best offense. at 8:14
    • First-quarter set, run multiple times: McDaniels comes up to screen the man guarding LaMelo Ball, then slips. Ball rises from deep and dumps the ball to McDaniels near the free-throw line for a floater, with Edwards and Kuminga in the corners and Gobert in the dunker spot. at 16:10
    • Chris Finch largely staggered Edwards and LaMelo Ball. They played together only at the start of the first quarter, the start of the third, and for a stretch in the fourth; one of them was always on the floor. at 22:16

    “How The Minnesota Timberwolves' Offense DOMINATED | Unlocking Jonathan Kuminga & Jaden McDaniels” · listen ↗

  • Podcast The Herd with Colin Cowherd · 3 points ·
    • The Timberwolves won by 25 last night, and Anthony Edwards was unbelievable. Ant and LaMelo Ball took 33 threes between them and made 14. at 33:45
    • Chris Finch (reported): Host paraphrase: Chris Finch said last year's team was 'a moody bunch'. He said LaMelo Ball is always in a great mood, so they 'traded out moodiness for happiness'. at 34:51
    • The host still has well-documented concerns about LaMelo Ball: his maturity, no playoff track record, and a poor play-in résumé. at 36:20

    “What's Wright - NBA Opening Night REACTION, Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye, Chiefs-Seahawks MASSIVE game” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Gil's Arena · 3 points ·
    • LaMelo Ball's Wolves debut: 21 points, 6 assists and 5 threes. at 9:23
    • Haywood framed Minnesota's LaMelo Ball acquisition as getting a former All-Star at a discount because of a negative reputation 'tag'. He suggested Charlotte would have kept Ball without that tag, and Naz Reid is now in Charlotte. He credited Minnesota's front-office head, heard as 'Tim Conley'. name not confirmed at 23:49
    • LaMelo Ball; Lonzo Ball (quoted): The travel debate: Lonzo Ball tweeted that the play was a travel. On SportsCenter, LaMelo said he 'let the ball guide' and that you can take as many steps as you want when doing so. Gil argued it is not called a travel because the step count starts only once the player has control of the ball. at 1:10:54

    “Luka's Snowtime Lakers COOK GSW, Ant-Man & Lamelo WENT CRAZY vs MIA & AD Goes VINTAGE In D.C.! Part 1” · listen ↗

  • Story CBS Sports · Article ·

    NBA refs confirm LaMelo Ball's ridiculous double stepback was indeed a travel: 'He takes four steps'

    source ↗

  • Podcast First Take · 2 points ·
    • LaMelo Ball made his Timberwolves debut, helping spoil the Heat debut of Giannis Antetokounmpo. at 1:04
    • Stephen A. sees LaMelo Ball galvanizing the Timberwolves into a fun-loving style and calls the Ball-Edwards pairing 'box office'. at 4:29

    “Hour 2: Are we more impressed with the Lakers or Timberwolves?” · listen ↗

  • Podcast The Zach Lowe Show · 2 points ·
    • Zach Lowe: Miami only started blitzing Edwards late, while LaMelo Ball was on the bench resting. Lowe reads that as teams only feeling safe blitzing Edwards when Ball is off the floor. at 22:49
    • The guest thought LaMelo Ball competed harder on defense than usual, fighting through screens and chasing Klay. at 24:51

    “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” · listen ↗

  • Podcast The Herd with Colin Cowherd · 3 points ·
    • Minnesota moved off Julius Randle and got LaMelo. The host says the team had become too plodding and slow with Rudy Gobert and Randle. at 42:48
    • The host says Minnesota chose speed and pace over size, with LaMelo as the play initiator getting Edwards the ball at the rim and on the perimeter. The aim is to make Wembanyama and OKC's bigs chase them around the court. at 43:03
    • The host worries about LaMelo's health. He calls him possibly injury prone, immature, and fast but sometimes sloppy. These are concerns, not a reported injury. at 42:58

    “THE HERD – HOUR 1 – LeBron and Lakers both won the divorce I Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye” · listen ↗

  • Podcast First Take · 5 points ·
    • LaMelo Ball, described as Edwards' new running mate, scored 21 in his Timberwolves debut, meaning he is new to Minnesota. at 1:43
    • Edwards and Ball scored or assisted on 82 points, 63% of Minnesota's 131. They became the first duo in Timberwolves history to each make five threes in a season opener. at 1:56
    • The analyst (addressed as 'Shanae') said LaMelo Ball unlocks an MVP conversation for Edwards and that Minnesota might be the most dangerous team in the West, while stressing she is not saying it is the best. at 2:16
    • Analyst: defenders cannot leave LaMelo Ball once he crosses half court, which takes pressure off Edwards. She said Ball made five threes, hedged with 'I believe'. at 3:13
    • Stephen A.: with Ball at point guard, Edwards no longer has to worry about playing point guard, which will free him up even more. at 5:06

    “Hour 1: Does LaMelo Ball unlock an MVP year for Anthony Edwards?” · listen ↗

  • Story ESPN · Article ·

    LaMelo Ball obviously traveled on way to 3-pointer, NBA refs confirm

    source ↗

  • Podcast Get Up host · Prediction · around the league

    Cheney would not be surprised if Edwards is seriously in MVP consideration. Cheney said LaMelo Ball gives him a running mate who makes the game easier, so he doesn't have to work as hard to create offense.

    “Hour 2: Luka's Lakers, Fly or Fold, Hook 'Em” at 28:18 · listen ↗

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.

Game log

● = started

2026-27 season

DateOppMinPtsRebAst3PM
Oct 25TOR W17 min15 pts1 reb8 ast4 3PM
Oct 23@ORL W23 min12 pts5 reb5 ast2 3PM
Oct 21@MIA W28 min21 pts2 reb6 ast5 3PM
2025-26 season (last season) · 74 games
DateOppMinPtsRebAst3PM
Apr 17@ORL L25 min23 pts2 reb5 ast3 3PM
Apr 14MIA W40 min30 pts5 reb10 ast2 3PM
Apr 12@NYK W29 min19 pts7 reb6 ast5 3PM
Apr 10DET L33 min27 pts5 reb8 ast6 3PM
Apr 7@BOS L37 min36 pts5 reb6 ast6 3PM
Apr 5@MIN W31 min35 pts3 reb8 ast7 3PM
Apr 3IND W30 min18 pts6 reb9 ast5 3PM
Apr 2PHX W25 min15 pts2 reb11 ast2 3PM
Mar 31@BKN W28 min14 pts7 reb9 ast3 3PM
Mar 29BOS L26 min19 pts4 reb3 ast3 3PM
Mar 28PHI L37 min20 pts3 reb8 ast5 3PM
Mar 26NYK W36 min22 pts5 reb6 ast4 3PM
Mar 24SAC W23 min20 pts6 reb8 ast6 3PM
Mar 21MEM W29 min29 pts3 reb4 ast7 3PM
Mar 19ORL W20 min20 pts6 reb5 ast3 3PM
Mar 17MIA W33 min30 pts6 reb13 ast4 3PM
Mar 14@SAS L22 min17 pts4 reb2 ast4 3PM
Mar 11@SAC W31 min30 pts6 reb5 ast6 3PM
Mar 10@POR W22 min14 pts4 reb4 ast2 3PM
Mar 8@PHX L33 min22 pts7 reb6 ast4 3PM
Mar 6MIA L33 min21 pts2 reb5 ast5 3PM
Mar 4@BOS W23 min18 pts7 reb4 ast4 3PM
Mar 3DAL W29 min15 pts5 reb9 ast4 3PM
Feb 28POR W30 min15 pts4 reb8 ast2 3PM
Feb 26@IND W22 min20 pts4 reb8 ast3 3PM
Feb 24@CHI W23 min16 pts3 reb7 ast4 3PM
Feb 22@WAS W27 min37 pts8 reb7 ast10 3PM
Feb 20CLE L27 min18 pts2 reb6 ast2 3PM
Feb 19HOU L31 min11 pts7 reb7 ast1 3PM
Feb 11ATL W32 min24 pts4 reb6 ast7 3PM
Feb 9DET L29 min20 pts4 reb4 ast4 3PM
Feb 7@ATL W31 min19 pts1 reb9 ast2 3PM
Feb 5@HOU W29 min20 pts6 reb4 ast5 3PM
Feb 2NOP W30 min24 pts8 reb5 ast3 3PM
Jan 31SAS W32 min16 pts8 reb8 ast2 3PM
Jan 29@DAL W31 min22 pts3 reb9 ast6 3PM
Jan 28@MEM W23 min16 pts1 reb4 ast4 3PM
Jan 26PHI W20 min11 pts2 reb8 ast2 3PM
Jan 24WAS W32 min20 pts2 reb11 ast3 3PM
Jan 22@ORL W28 min16 pts6 reb7 ast4 3PM
Jan 21CLE L22 min2 pts5 reb7 ast0 3PM
Jan 18@DEN W19 min10 pts1 reb6 ast2 3PM
Jan 17@GSW L21 min15 pts4 reb2 ast1 3PM
Jan 15@LAL W29 min30 pts6 reb11 ast9 3PM
Jan 12@LAC L32 min25 pts9 reb5 ast3 3PM
Jan 10@UTA W23 min17 pts5 reb5 ast5 3PM
Jan 8IND L27 min33 pts3 reb8 ast7 3PM
Jan 7TOR L25 min15 pts7 reb7 ast1 3PM
Jan 5@OKC W25 min16 pts2 reb2 ast4 3PM
Jan 3@CHI W26 min17 pts6 reb7 ast3 3PM
Jan 2@MIL L26 min12 pts2 reb7 ast2 3PM
Dec 31GSW L30 min27 pts5 reb5 ast7 3PM
Dec 29MIL L29 min26 pts2 reb7 ast6 3PM
Dec 26@ORL W29 min22 pts7 reb5 ast4 3PM
Dec 23WAS W25 min23 pts2 reb9 ast4 3PM
Dec 22@CLE L24 min23 pts4 reb9 ast6 3PM
Dec 20@DET L23 min8 pts1 reb6 ast2 3PM
Dec 18ATL W29 min28 pts4 reb13 ast8 3PM
Dec 5@TOR W12 min11 pts2 reb3 ast0 3PM
Dec 3@NYK L37 min34 pts8 reb9 ast5 3PM
Dec 1@BKN L30 min12 pts5 reb14 ast2 3PM
Nov 29TOR W22 min14 pts2 reb5 ast1 3PM
Nov 28CHI W29 min16 pts7 reb8 ast3 3PM
Nov 26NYK L27 min11 pts6 reb4 ast2 3PM
Nov 22LAC L25 min18 pts4 reb7 ast1 3PM
Nov 19@IND L27 min18 pts7 reb9 ast2 3PM
Nov 17@TOR L28 min20 pts5 reb8 ast1 3PM
Nov 14@MIL L27 min16 pts3 reb10 ast2 3PM
Nov 1MIN L33 min18 pts7 reb8 ast2 3PM
Oct 30ORL L36 min17 pts7 reb13 ast1 3PM
Oct 28@MIA L28 min20 pts8 reb9 ast4 3PM
Oct 26@WAS W35 min38 pts13 reb13 ast5 3PM
Oct 25@PHI L34 min27 pts10 reb8 ast4 3PM
Oct 22BKN W34 min20 pts2 reb8 ast4 3PM

How his numbers change by situation, with four seasons of history →

Predictions about him

how calls are tracked

Came true 1 · Waiting 2

  • Waiting Ben Beecken: LaMelo Ball averages about 8.5 assists per game.
    2026-10-20 · Podcast · by 2027-04-12 Flag
  • Waiting Ben Beecken: LaMelo Ball averages about 22.8-22.9 points per game (transcription garbled).
    2026-10-20 · Podcast · by 2027-04-12 Flag
  • Came true Locked On Wolves (show): LaMelo Ball doesn't play in Friday's game at Chicago.
    2026-10-15 · Podcast · for @ CHI, 2026-10-17 · result: did not play Flag

Background

ESPN profile · our roster records
BornAug 22, 2001 · Chino Hills, CA
Size6′7″ · 180 lb · Guard
Draft2020 · round 1, pick 3 · CHA
Experience7th NBA season
Teams (since 2022-23)MIN 2026–27 · CHA 2022–26