It was announced Wednesday afternoon by the NBA that Charlotte Hornets’ point guard LaMelo Ball is the 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards finished in second place and guard Tyrese Haliburton rounded it out in third place.
Ball had an excellent rookie season, averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He also shot a respectable 44 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the line.
Even though Ball missed 21 games with a fractured wrist, he was still able to make a big impact on the team and the organization. He was the only player in the last sixty seasons to lead all first year players in four major categories; total points, rebounds, assists and steals heading into the All-Star break. Ball was the only qualified rookie to average 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per-36 minutes since Oscar Robinson in the 1960-61 season.
Only six of Balls’ contemporaries were able to match or exceed his play per-36 minutes this year, Luca Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook. Great company to be in.
Ball is the third Hornets player to receive this award. Larry Johnson won the honor in 1991-92 and Emeka Okafor took home the prize in 2004-05.
The Hornets have a point guard in LaMelo Ball that they can build their franchise around for the next ten year. Now they have to get players that can play around him.
