CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 12: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the first half of their game at Spectrum Center on December 12, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LaMelo Ball made a great first impression for Charlotte Hornets fans in his NBA preseason debut.
The Charlotte Hornets only had a 19-percent chance of ending up with a top three-pick in the NBA Draft. On the night of the lottery, the Hornets jumped up five picks to land the third-overall pick. Months later, Charlotte used said pick to select guard LaMelo Ball of the Illawara Hawks.
Hornets fans were expectedly pumped about the pick, and they had good reason to. If you watched his preseason debut against the Toronto Raptors, you can understand why the youngest Ball brother received so much hype. It was highlight after highlight for the rookie!
LaMelo showed off his play-making ability
From full court dimes to behind-the-back assists, Ball was nothing short of impressive his first time on an NBA court.
Ball didn’t put any points on the board, as he shot 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-3 from the three-point line in 16:07 of playing time. He did, however, dish out four assists and grabbed 10 rebounds in the team’s 111-100 loss to Toronto.
If this performance showed anything, it’s that Ball could be the point guard the Hornets have been looking for ever since the organization sent Kemba Walker to the Boston Celtics in their sign-and-trade that netted them Terry Rozier. Consider this an appetizer, as hoops fans are definitely intrigued to see Ball play in the future. For those interested, the Hornets play two more preseason games against the Orlando Magic, which take place next Thursday (Dec. 17) and Saturday (Dec. 19).