LaMelo Ball is taking his game to a whole new level this season. The Charlotte Hornets‘ star guard isn’t just putting up flashy numbers – he’s becoming the complete player the team always hoped he’d be.
The 23-year-old is having his best season yet, averaging an impressive 29.3 points per game while dishing out 7.6 assists and grabbing 5.4 rebounds.
But here’s what’s really turning heads: Ball’s defense.
At 6-foot-7, Ball has always had the size to be a defensive force. Now he’s finally using it. Opponents are shooting just 49.6% when he’s guarding them – pretty solid numbers for a guy who used to be known only for his offensive flair.
“He’s definitely stepped up defensively,” teammate Miles Bridges said after their recent 110-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks. “Just wanting to play defense has been LaMelo’s mindset this whole year. As long as he continues to want to play defense, he’s going to be good at it. He’s 6-7, long – he’s good.”
It’s been a tough road getting here. Ball missed big chunks of the last two seasons with injuries, putting his development on hold just when he was starting to look like an All-Star.
But new head coach Charles Lee seems to have unlocked something in the young guard. Ball isn’t just making highlight-reel passes anymore – he’s becoming the kind of two-way player who can change a franchise’s fortunes.
That’s huge for Charlotte. When you’ve got a 6-foot-7 guard who can run your offense, score from anywhere, and now defend multiple positions? That’s the kind of player you can build around.
Pair him with rookie Brandon Miller, and the Hornets might finally have something cooking. If Ball keeps this up, those playoff dreams in Charlotte might not be so far-fetched after all.
