Photo: The Athletic
Before the start of this season, what were your thoughts on LaMelo Ball? How did you think he was going to adjust to the league? Did you think he got drafted early? Too late? Well initially, this is what I was thinking. Very entertaining to watch, I could watch him play all day, but would that be enough. I had questions about his perimeter shooting, his defense, and maybe even some about his attitude. There have been many opinions about LaMelo, especially over the course of this season, but according to what I have seen so far, he will be a superstar.
Photo: Sports Illustrated
Charlotte Hornets should be blessed to have such young talent on their team, they haven't had that in a while. The last player with “superstar,” credibility was Kemba Walker, who most definitely played like an all-star during his time in Charlotte, but didn't get the role while with the Hornets. With continued growth and consistency Ball could be one of the very few stars in Charlotte Hornet's history. As of right now, Ball is averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 assists, with a total of 37 steals, leading all NBA rookies in those certain categories.
Photo: Spectrum News
It was definitely a difficult transition for rookies this season, with no summer league and a condensed training camp we had to wait in order to see what each rookie will bring to the league. A big question most people had was about Ball's three-point shooting, but made it pretty clear that wouldn’t be an issue as he already tied the franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single game by a rookie.
Photo: CBS Sports
I have always recognized Ball’s confidence, his fearlessness, he isn't afraid to take control. He has a good vision of the court, creates spectacular looks and opportunities for his teammates, which we have seen so far in this season. We see how offensively he affects the team, but how about defensively? It's there, I see the potential, he gets into passing lanes which can create turnovers, but it's still a work in process. He will get it down sooner than later, I do believe he will become a well-rounded player, being successful in every part of his game.
Photo: Charlotte Observer
This is just the beginning, just the start of what we are going to see from LaMelo Ball. We have seen him grow immensely so far in his career, I am excited to experience his lows and his highs, which will shape him for the future. I have said this before, and I will say it again, he is my ROTY, and who I believe should've been drafted as the #1 overall pick in this past draft. Charlotte Hornets got lucky, I am excited to see how they use him and how he continues to shock the basketball world.
