LaMelo Ball was the most hyped prospect in this draft. Partly due to his father’s outspokenness and more so due to his skill, LaMelo Ball has become a sensation, even before the NBA. While the Charlotte Hornets have been easing Ball into the league, his playing time has been steadily increasing, and he’s the first player off of the bench.
LaMelo Ball recently showed why he deserved to be the No. 3 overall pick – after the Charlotte Hornets’ win over the Atlanta Hawks, LaMelo Ball became the youngest player to get a triple-double in the NBA, surpassing Markelle Fultz. Ball finished with 22 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds, and showed Charlotte fans what the future could hold. One of the people who praised Ball’s performance was Stephen A. Smith:
Just woke up and watched the Re-Air of @hornets win over @ATLHawks. Let me tell y’all something: @MELOD1P looks REAL. As in real special. Loves playing. He’s assertive. Aggressive. Look out. He’s finishing games already. He’ll probably be starting in a week.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 10, 2021
Stephen A. Smith is correct in his assessment: Ball showed that the way he plays can translate over to the league, and is confident in his own abilities, being aggressive from the jump. Smith is also correct in assuming that Ball will start soon, as Ball seems to be getting better with more playing time, while Devonte’ Graham has been struggling. It could be best to start Ball now and help him develop more chemistry with the starting lineup.
LaMelo Ball could win the ROTY award: he is that talented. While it is too early to tell whether he can string good performances over an entire season, Ball is certainly on the right track.
