LaMelo Ball’s impact on the Charlotte Hornets has been felt all season long. Early in the season, he played his way into a spot in the starting lineup and retained it up until his injury. In his absence, the lack of pace and creativity he brought to the team was felt as well.
The Orlando Magic are one of the few teams that have seen the progression of Ball first hand. In a late January back-to-back in Florida, Ball totaled 20 points in the two games and showed some of the youthful inexperience he possessed in the first month of the season.
On Friday, he showcased how far he had come, leading the Hornets to an important win with 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. Prior to the game, Magic head coach Steve Clifford spoke about Ball’s development and influence on Charlotte this year.
“Well, I think the one thing that he has done is he has shot the ball from range a lot better than I think people thought that he would,” he said. “As we go into the game tonight, I think he has shot .370% from the three, but his passing and his awareness of where his teammates are – how to get them the ball in positions where they can be successful – he is like a veteran player.
“Their pace when he is on the floor, I believe they are like fifth and when he is off the floor, they are like 17th so he is a game-changer and he is exciting to watch. He has size and it is his awareness and his basic basketball instinct and his passing ability that make him special.”
As Clifford notes, the Hornets rank in the middle of the league in pace this season at 99.04. However, that number sits at 103.14 with Ball on the court, a mark that would rank second in the league.
Paired with his scoring and passing ability and his high basketball IQ, Ball’s impact on games has gone from making plays in flashes on the fringes to controlling games, as he did in the second half against Orlando.
Behind Ball, the Hornets are in the middle of the playoff race, another showcase of just how impactful, and special, his rookie season has been in Charlotte.
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