After languishing in the middle for several seasons and enduring the loss of Kemba Walker a few years back, the Charlotte Hornets found a new hope when they drafted LaMelo Ball in 2020. Since then, the youngest Ball brother has morphed into one of the brightest stars in the NBA today. His rookie cards, meanwhile, reflect the same sentiment as one of the top names in the market these days.

The thing is, that hasn't been the case for the past few months from a price perspective. And with the Hornets' recent failure to get past the play-in tournament, Ball's card value has dipped lower than expected. We take a look at how he performed after the All-Star break and the state of his rookie card in the market.

LaMelo Ball and the Hornets after the ASG

Ball's second year in the NBA has definitely been a good one for the Hornets' point guard. In just 75 games, the first-time All-Star managed to increase his numbers from 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists to 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per contest. He's also improving his shot efficiency by connecting 39% from beyond the arc on 7.5 attempts each night and 87% from the free throw line.

The best example of Ball's jump from his rookie season to year two is when Charlotte faced off against the Indiana Pacers, a squad that still had Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert in it, late last year. In that game, the sophomore guard notched 32 points by hitting 12-of-22 from the field and 4-of-9 from downtown. He also made 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and a steal in 39 minutes on the court.

That performance represented what a peak LaMelo Ball can do for Charlotte, especially with the franchise hoping to make the playoffs after several years of missing it. This became more evident once the All-Star break was done as Ball and Hornets went on a blitz to secure a ticket to the postseason. In the 22 games before the regular season's end, Charlotte won 14 contests and lost eight, including crucial meltdowns against top-tier teams in the league.

During that stretch, Ball scored 20.3 points per game while making 5.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. What's great about his post-ASG performance is how Ball improved his three-pointer from 36% before the All-Star break to 43% after it. This allowed Charlotte to stretch out the floor and help the All-Star point guard create better plays for his teammates attacking the paint.

Ball's improvement as a perimeter threat was on full display when the Hornets faced the Brooklyn Nets late last month. In that game, the point guard hit 7-of-12 from deep, which help him end up with 33 points in 37 minutes. Ultimately, Charlotte got the 119-110 win over the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving-led squad. But as great as that match was for Ball, things went differently for them during the most important match of their season.

During their play-in game against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, Ball would go on to post 26 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal. While those numbers looked great on paper, his efficiency from the field told a different story. Out of the 25 attempts Ball made, he only connected seven of them, which translates to a horrendous 28% success rate. He also attempted 14 shots from downtown and made four of them, which also equates to 28% from the three-point line.

This kind of shooting was one of the factors why Charlotte lost their chance to make the postseason this year. And while Ball himself improved greatly, and was even named to his first All-Star Game, his final performance found him wanting. As such, it only makes sense for his rookie cards to plummet right after the Hornets were eliminated from their quest to make the playoffs.

The state of LaMelo Ball rookie cards

Over the last three months, LaMelo Ball's PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has been on a steady decline.

LaMelo Ball, Hornets, NBA Cards

In a Card Ladder graph covering the said period, this particular LaMelo Ball rookie card has gone down by 48% from $2,900 to $1,500. His poor showing against the Hawks can also be seen when the card's value dropped from $1,736 to its current value of $1,500.

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Chicago Bulls shooting guard Ayo Dosunmu wearing a Charlotte Hornets jersey with a basketball, next to Atlanta Hawks forward A.J. Griffin also wearing a Charlotte Hornets jersey. A couple of Charlotte Hornets logos added in the background.

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JJ Redick with Hornets' LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller

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JJ Redick (2024 image) wearing a Charlotte Hornets hat.

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As the numbers show, Ball's Prizm Silver isn't as hot as it was before the new season started. This can also be a sign of how other LaMelo Ball rookie cards are performing in the NBA card market right now.

The verdict on LaMelo Ball rookie cards

It can't be denied that Ball is, indeed, the top name from his class in the card market. The thing is, his stock is in danger now, especially after failing to lead the Hornets to a playoff spot and Anthony Edwards' monster debut against the Memphis Grizzlies. This doesn't bode well for collectors who purchased a LaMelo Ball rookie card while his stock was at its peak.

LaMelo Ball, Hornets, NBA Cards

The good news, on the other hand, is that the coming weeks will be the best time to get the All-Star's cards on the market. Since the offseason has already started for Charlotte, collectors can expect an influx of LaMelo Ball rookie cards at tempting prices. This is an ideal chance to buy low and prepare for the following season.

Even with a horrendous performance during his final game of the season, Ball still has what it takes to become better. Some would say it would only be a matter of time before he fully enters his prime, which should put the entire league on notice. By then, those LaMelo Ball rookie cards will reach their full potential and reward the patience of those who invested in them.