It is said that you always remember your first, but it is a night that LaMelo Ball will probably try to forget.
Ball, the 19-year-old who was selected No. 3 in the 2020 draft, was held without a score in his NBA debut on Wednesday night. He was 0-for-5 on the field and 0-for-3 on 3-point attempts in 16 minutes on the bench. Ball also had three turnovers with three assists, two steals and a comeback while the Cavaliers won, 121-114.
Two of Ball’s turnovers and one of his thefts came in the same order, which aptly summed up the debutante’s night in one piece.
In bad news for Charlotte, center Cody Zeller left the game in the third quarter with a fractured left hand. It is unclear how long he will be out.
Hornets goalie Terry Rozier led all scorers with 42 points on 15 to 23 shots, including a scorching 10 to 16 on 3-point attempts. Third-year police officer Collin Sexton led Cleveland by 27 points on 9-for-16 off the field.
LaMelo’s long-awaited debut is similar to that of his older brother. Lonzo Ball, taken with the No. 2 pick by the Lakers in the 2017 draft, scored three points in 29 minutes on his NBA debut, throwing 1 to 6 from the field. He also got nine rebounds with four assists, a steal and two turnovers.
Things improved dramatically for Lonzo in the second half, when he scored 29 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists in a win against the Suns. LaMelo will have another chance when the Hornets face the Thunder at home on Saturday.