Michael Jordan gives an “A” to LaMelo Ball’s performance

Charlotte. Rookie LaMelo Ball has captured the NBA’s attention this season with his fantastic passing and surprising scoring ability, including Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

The six-time NBA champion said that when the Hornets selected Ball No. 3 selected from the 2020 draw, they expected the wise 6’6 “goalie to finally reach the level of becoming an All-Star .

Jordan likes the way Ball is trending.

“I think Melo has adapted better to the NBA game than any of us thought at the beginning of his career,” Jordan said in an email to the Associated Press. “He has exceeded our expectations so far this season.”

The ball leads all beginners in most statistical categories, including points (15.8), assists (6.3), rebounds (6) and thefts (1.6) per game.

More importantly, Ball’s game, which includes a variety of clever and thin passes, has brought a bit of pizzazz and stellar potential to a franchise full of obscurity for years. The Hornets are 17-18 in the All-Star break, just one game behind the Boston Celtics in fourth place in the ultra-tight Eastern Conference.

“It really means business,” said Donovan Mitchell, the jazz guardian.

Warriors striker Draymond Green recently wrote on Twitter: “LaMelo is a threat!”

“Right now, with the way things look, it looks to me like the NBA Rookie of the Year.” Mavericks manager Rick Carlisle said. “He does it statistically, his team wins. It has energy, it has a vibration, it has arrogance. If you like to see players play in style, he’s up there. “

Ball, who grew up following Penny Hardaway and Jamal Crawford’s most important moments, sees things on the field that most players don’t see.

He regularly delivers back-to-back timings leading to transition tours, open triples and pick-and-roll air transport, many of which go to Miles Bridges, earning the duo the nickname “AirBnB”.

Ball’s impact with the Hornets was almost immediate, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in just the tenth game in the NBA. However, 20 games passed until Hornets coach James Borrego introduced him to the starting lineup after a Devonte Graham injury.

Ball is unlikely to resign soon.

The 19-year-old lifted his game in just 15 starts, averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds and has already twice beaten the NBA debutant of the month.

“Being me, I’ll never say getting on the bench was a smart thing or a good thing,” Ball said. “I always feel that when I’m on the field I help. … But I think one of the reasons is because I didn’t have a summer league, so he probably wanted to make it easier for me. “

Borrego added: “His growth, his courage, his ability to recover even when things don’t get in the way at one end of the court … is a special young man.”

Before the NBA draw, there were concerns about Ball’s unorthodox form of shooting, with a lower throw point than most. He proved that skeptics make mistakes in finding ways to create their own shot, while hitting 37.8% from outside the arc.

Ball said the coaches tried to change his shooting form almost wherever he was, but he resisted firmly.

“I always said, ‘That’s how I shoot,'” Ball said. “I trust that. I feel good about letting go. Even coming here (to the Hornets), they quietly tried to adjust it a little, but I said, “No, that’s how I shoot” and stayed with him. ”

“I think people were wondering at first, was he a good enough shooter?” Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak asked. – I don’t think it’s a concern.

The ability to shoot forced the team to defend the ball behind the bow, making it easier for them to enter and score or the plate.

“Man, that’s fine,” Mitchell admitted. “I’m not going to lie, I’m very impressed by his ability to play, his competitiveness, but his joy. … He has a lot of talent; can do a lot of different things. “

Ball said he wanted to add some muscle to the frame, and Jordan added, “We think he will continue to work and improve as a player.”

Ball’s long-term goal in the NBA is simple, if not high: he wants to be a Hall of Famer like Jordan. Nothing would have pleased the six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls.

The Hornets have not been in the playoffs since 2016 and have not won a playoff series in 19 years.

They lacked the power of the stars.

Ball, with 5.7 million followers on Instagram, attracts national attention. And his selfless and pass-by approach could make the Hornets an attractive destination for future free agents, making Charlotte more competitive.

Like most beginners, Ball must continue to improve on the defensive side of the field for the Hornets to achieve consistent success.

“Our goal is to build a consistent winner and make free agents see our show, just like Gordon (Hayward) did this off-season,” Jordan said. “It’s not just Melo. It’s about our group of young and talented players, our coaching staff and our entire Hornets organization. All these factors,