LaMelo Ball has made this season his personal agenda to deliver All-Star-level basketball. Sure, there are some injuries on the way, but when Melo plays, he steals the show. He’s playing like the franchise player the Hornets wanted him to be. But there’s no end to greatness, and in the cash-rich sports world, there’s always room for a bigger contract. LaMelo Ball can get that and then some more if a few adjustments are put in place.

In the latest episode of Off Guard with Austin Rivers, the host shared that he recently met someone involved in the baseball business, though he didn’t reveal the person’s name. The man provided insight into the brilliance of baseball genius Juan Soto.

“One day when we talked about, like, the LaMelo’s and some of these guys, and they’re making good money,” the 32-year-old said, suggesting there’s potential to earn even more. “Like, if they kinda maybe presented their brand a little bit differently, how much more money can you make.” Rivers then quickly added, “I only bring that up just to say, like, the reputation of him (Soto) is, like, very solid, like the premium of a professional.”

This came up after the Dominican inked a 15-year contract with the NY Mets on Sunday worth $765 million. A deal that made heads turn. However, Rivers believes that young talents like LaMelo Ball have the capability to earn as much as Soto if the Hornets guard could present himself in a better way.

What went wrong with LaMelo Ball’s brand image?

Ball has undeniably been an asset to the NBA with the performances he has delivered. But the sport is about more than just talent; there are areas where the 23-year-old has fallen short. One such instance occurred last month after the Hornets’ game against the Bucks when Ball made a derogatory comment, “We loaded up, no h*mo.” The NBA found this unacceptable and fined him a hefty $100K in response.

Following the incident, Ball apologized, explaining that his intention was never to hurt anyone. “I really didn’t mean anything [by it] and don’t want to offend anybody. I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate,” he said after the next game against the Cavaliers. But what’s said cannot be undone.

Such things are what decrease a player’s brand value, according to Rivers. However, it’s not too late to fix the image. The hefty fine certainly taught Ball a lesson, and he likely won’t be repeating his comments, not even jokingly. But earning a Soto-like contract will definitely take a huge jump.

LaMelo Ball signed his $203 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets last year, which binds him to the franchise for five years, as per Spotrac. So, the only thing Rivers believes could close the $562 million disparity between LaMelo Ball and the 26-year-old baseball player is improving the former’s brand image.

Apart from that, Ball is heading in the right direction, averaging 31.1 points per game. Leading the Hornets through a rocky season is surely challenging for the youngster, but with his impressive individual performance, he is drawing attention. But do you think that’s enough for Ball to land a massive contract like Soto’s? Let us know your thoughts!