Desmond Bane vs LaMelo Ball
Bane · Ball
| Bane | Ball | |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Games availability | 72 |
| 33.6 | Minutes per game | 28.0 |
| 20.1 | Points per game | 20.1 |
| 4.1 | Rebounds per game | 4.8 |
| 4.1 | Assists per game | 7.1 |
| 1.5 | Steals + blocks per game | 1.5 |
| 2.0 | Turnovers per game · lower is better | 2.8 |
| 48.4% | Field goal % | 40.7% |
| 39.1% | Three-point % 5.2 vs 10.3 attempts | 36.8% |
| 90.8% | Free throw % | 89.9% |
| 60.7% | True shooting TS% | 54.6% |
| 22.4% | Usage USG% | 30.6% |
| 19.0% | Assist % of teammates' baskets | 38.4% |
| 5.9% | Rebound % of available | 8.4% |
| +2.2 | Net rating on court | +9.1 |
| 11.1% | PIE player impact estimate | 13.4% |
| +1.6 | Plus-minus per game | +5.8 |
Where the gap is
from the numbers aboveLaMelo Ball scored more in 2025-26, 0.0 points a game apart (20.1 vs 20.1), on Ball's heavier usage (30.6% vs 22.4%).
Bane is the more efficient scorer by true shooting, 60.7% to 54.6%; TS% folds threes and free throws into one number, so the gap survives shot-diet differences.
Playmaking goes to Ball (7.1 vs 4.1 assists), the glass to Ball (4.8 vs 4.1 rebounds).
Availability is part of the comparison: Bane played 10 more games (82 vs 72 of 82).
With Ball on the floor his team outscored opponents by +9.1 per 100 possessions, against +2.2 for Bane; on-court net rating carries the teammates with it, so read it next to PIE.
On the books for 2026-27: Bane $39.4M through 2028-29, Ball $40.8M through 2028-29. Whether either fits a trade is a Trade Machine question, not a stat one.
Splits
2025-26 · from the game logs| Bane | Ball | |
|---|---|---|
| 45-37 | Record when playing | 41-31 |
| 21.4 | Points at home | 19.5 |
| 18.8 | Points on the road | 20.6 |
| 22.3 | Points in wins | 20.4 |
| 17.4 | Points in losses | 19.6 |
| 37 | Season high | 38 |
| 12 | 30-point games | 9 |
| 1 | Double-doubles | 10 |
Last games & contracts
test a trade in the Trade Machine →More comparisons
pick any two players →Per-game numbers and percentages are 2025-26 regular season from stats.nba.com; splits and last games from our own game logs; contract figures are cap hits from public salary data and can lag a signing by a day. Bold marks the better number in each row (turnovers: fewer is better).