The Charlotte Hornets have had a rocky start to the 2023-24 NBA season. Their performance has so far left fans and analysts alike disappointed. Despite some strong performances from players like Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, the team has struggled to find its footing and establish a consistent rhythm on the court. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Hornets' season so far and identify the player who has been the biggest disappointment for the team.

The Charlotte Hornets' season so far

LaMelo Ball doesn't think his conditioning is playing a role in the Hornets early season struggles

The Hornets have had a disappointing start to the 2023-24 NBA season, with a 3-5 record that has left them outside the top 10 of the Eastern Conference. While the team has shown flashes of brilliance, they have struggled to find consistency and have been plagued by turnovers and defensive lapses. They started the season with a solid 116-100 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Since then, however, they've won just two of their last seven assignments. Despite these challenges, there have been some bright spots for the Hornets. These include the strong play of Rozier and Hayward, who have been two of the team's most consistent performers. PJ Washington has also done well, along with rookie Brandon Miller.

Now let's look at the Charlotte Hornets' most disappointing player so far early in the 2023-24 NBA regular season.

Biggest disappointment for the Hornets

Okay, give us a bit of rope with this one. One player who has been a major disappointment for the Hornets early in the 2023-24 NBA season is LaMelo Ball. Yes, that's right. The Hornets' best player — the face of the franchise — has been the most disappointing as well. It's not that Ball has been bad. It's just that he hasn't been as good as we had initially hoped or wanted him to be.

Remember that in the past three seasons, we've seen Ball just progressively raise his game and production. Right now, however, most of his numbers have dipped from last year. Ball has struggled a bit to find his form this season and has not been the kind of efficient take-charge star the Hornets need. His shooting percentages have sunk, with Ball shooting just 39.9 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from three-point range. In addition, he has been a turnover machine, averaging a career-high 3.8 turnovers per game.

Ball's struggles have been particularly frustrating for the Hornets, as he was expected to be this team's main driver of success this season. His relatively below-par shooting and turnover-prone play have hurt the team's offensive efficiency and have made it difficult for them to establish a consistent rhythm on the court. While it is still early in the season, the Hornets will need Ball to step up his game if they hope to turn things around and compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Looking Ahead

The Charlotte Hornets have had a disappointing start to the 2023-24 NBA season. Their play and record have left fans and analysts alike frustrated. While there have been some bright spots for the team, including the strong play of Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, one player who has been a major disappointment is LaMelo Ball. His subpar shooting and turnover-prone play have just made it very challenging for them to establish a consistent rhythm on the court. If Ball can turn things around and start playing like the star he was expected to be, the Hornets may still have a chance to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.