LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LaMelo Ball finally scored his first points as an NBA basketball player.
After not registering a single point in his Charlotte Hornets debut on on Wednesday, first-round pick LaMelo Ball was finally able to get on the board with this bucket vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
Ball was taken No. 3 overall by the Hornets in the 2020 NBA Draft, joining his older brother Lonzo Ball as top-three picks. Seen as the better shooter of the two, the Hornets point guard was not able to put one through the net in 16 minutes earlier this week. But by putting this one through the cylinder, Ball can forever say he scored a point at basketball’s highest level.
Michael Jordan expects big things out of LaMelo Ball in Charlotte
Though his older brother did not live up to expectations with the Los Angeles Lakers, Ball is in his rookie year playing for Michael Jordan’s franchise. While Terry Rozier is the Hornets’ star, the idea is Ball can be a difference-maker the Hornets have been missing since superstar Kemba Walker made his way to Rozier’s former team in the Boston Celtics. Charlotte needs Ball to be great.
It will be interesting to see where the Hornets end up in the Eastern Conference this season. Though they are probably better than the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, the Hornets are in a cluster of about four or five teams fighting for one on the last playoff spots available in the conference. If Ball plays at an All-Rookie level, the Hornets may get there.
Here is to Ball becoming a star in the Queen City playing for His Airness in Charlotte.