The NBA season is right around the corner, and ESPN has released its annual preseason top 100 list. One noticeable ranking on the list was Hornets franchise cornerstone LaMelo Ball, who was slotted at 63rd.

Some may ask why a player of his talent level is ranked so low; the short and simple answer is injuries. It’s clear now that LaMelo Ball is starting to enter the same territory as Zion Williamson, someone whose talent far exceeds where media and fans look at them within the landscape of the NBA due to lack of availability and playing style, which is more prominent in Ball’s case. Ball, while only playing in 47 games, averaged 25 points and seven assists, clearly showing that when he’s on the court, he can put up All-Star caliber numbers. Ball only shot the ball at a 40% clip from the field, and when you combine that with his struggles to stay on the court, then the ranking he gets will follow suit.

The more controversial piece of this ranking is the players that are ranked over Ball, who, while he hasn’t stayed on the court as much as he needs to, is clearly a more talented basketball player than some of the guys ranked ahead of him. Here are some surprising players ranked ahead of Ball at 63.

62. Christian Braun

60. Austin Reaves

59. Jalen Suggs

54. Paul George

Braun, by far, is the most surprising ranking throughout this list in general, coming off a year where he averaged 12 points per game, on 45% shooting, and shot only 30% from three. He did contribute to a talented Denver team that gave Oklahoma City some trouble but based on the production he had, he shouldn’t be ranked ahead of the Hornets star. Braun was available playing in 79 out of 82 games last season, which is the bulk of his argument over LaMelo Ball.

Another shock was Jalen Suggs, who does possess great perimeter defensive skills, averaging over a steal a game and a block as a guard. The problem is that the criteria becomes questionable for this list, because if Suggs played 65-70 games last season, then the ranking over Ball may be warranted, but he only played 35. He didn’t make enough of a leap last year to where he’s in the same conversation as a LaMelo Ball, who most still view as an all-star talent.

The last one that was a surprise was the placement for 76ers forward Paul George, a former All-NBA caliber forward who played just 41 games last year and didn’t produce to his standards when on the floor, and even he admitted that on his “Podcast P’ show. “I didn’t hold up to my bargain,” George said on his podcast back in May of this year. This one’s the most similar to Ball’s situation, former all-stars who couldn’t stay healthy but the difference is that Ball was still giving the Hornets 25 points and 7 assists every night he played.

Ultimately, these rankings are to create conversation and debate, and in doing so, create pressure for Ball, who is entering a “prove it” season where he has to show he can lead Charlotte to improvement, especially in the wide open Eastern Conference. It’s up to Ball to show his worth and where he places in the league. If he does what he’s supposed to, he’ll be a lot higher than 63 by the end of the year.