LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets. (Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports)
Lamelo Ball had a sensational first year for the Charlotte Hornets and has been awarded Rookie of the Year honors.
This season, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award was essentially a two-person race. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lamelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets put together impressive inaugural seasons. Edwards blew people away with his ferocious dunks, and Ball dazzled the audience with his playmaking.
However, the voters decided on who should be the Rookie of the Year, and although both players deserved it, only one walked away with the hardware.
Lamelo Ball wins the NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The better rookie this season was in Charlotte, as Lamelo Ball is the winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He added that an official announcement should be coming soon from the league.
Ball averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He and Luka Doncic are the only rookies to average 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists while making at least 1.5 three-pointers per game, per Statmuse. Ball made 1.8 three-pointers during his first year. His floater was almost unguardable, able to utilize from the top of the key almost. He managed to put up these impressive numbers in only 51 games this season.