LaMelo Ball may have been in the NBA for just five years, but a lot has changed since he arrived in the league as the Charlotte Hornets’ third overall pick in the 2020 draft.
On Friday, Ball’s appearance drew the attention of fans after SportsCenter posted a photo showing how the 24-year-old guard looked in his first year in the NBA and how he looks now entering his sixth year.
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Ball, who was 19 when he was drafted into the NBA, has undergone plenty of physical changes throughout the past half decade. In particular, he has a lot more tattoos now, with the ink on his arm and neck really standing out.
“A few tats later… Year 6 for Melo,” SportsCenter wrote.
Obviously, it’s hard to ignore the massive change LaMelo Ball has made throughout his NBA career so far. That being said, fans were quick to react and share their opinions on the one-time All-Star’s current appearance.
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“Wow he looks so different with tattoos. I almost forgot that’s the way he looked his rookie year,” a commenter wrote. A follower shared, “A lot of tats later.”
“Honestly the tats aren’t terrible… it’s the goatee,” a third fan remarked, taking notice of his unkempt facial hair.
Many, however, were not happy about Ball’s tattoos and his seemingly high focus on his appearance, especially since the Hornets haven’t had much success under his leadership. Charlotte has yet to make the playoffs since he joined the team, though to be fair, the team last reached the postseason in 2015-16.
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It doesn’t help that Ball has played more than 60 games just once in five seasons.
“He spends more time at the tattoo parlor than on the basketball court,” a critic added. Another one said, “He should concentrate on his game more rather than his tattoo game.”
“I see the tats, but I don’t eve see him play… 0 primetime games, 0 playoff appearances,” a social media user stated.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looks on during a game.Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
It remains to be seen if Ball can take his game to the next level and transform the Hornets into a winning franchise. Sure enough, though, plenty of eyes will be on him when the 2025-26 NBA season begins.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.