Hornets Coach Borrego on Training Camp Roster and LiAngelo Ball

Teams around the NBA are holding preseason media day on Monday prior to them opening training camp on Tuesday. The Charlotte Hornets held their media day bright and early, at 8:30 AM, announcing their camp roster and holding interviews with the local media.

One name that was noticeably absent from the 2021 Training Camp Roster was shooting guard LiAngelo Ball.

LiAngelo Ball, one of LaMelo Ball’s two older brothers, became a Hornets fan sensation during the NBA summer league that was held in Las Vegas earlier this summer.

“LiAngelo did a good job in summer league, I can say that,” Hornets coach James Borrego said Monday. “As a basketball coach, I think he did a heck of a job in the time we had him there. What happens now in the future with LiAngelo, I don’t have that answer; I’ll leave that to (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) to discuss and describe as we go. I like our roster. We have a full 20-man roster ready to go.”

During the five games in Las Vegas summer league, LiAngelo averaged 10 points and 2 rebounds on 39% shooting, while playing 17 minutes. He was a top five scorer on the team, but he fell off in the rebounding category to number 11 and next to last, 12 out of 13 in assists with 2, just ahead of big man Vernon Carey. Ball committed 3 turnovers.

But his lack of performance did not stop the fans at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion this summer from chanting his name whenever he entered the game. Nearly every shot he attempted was met with the crowd reaction of the joy of victory or the agony of defeat.

“I’m comfortable with LiAngelo and how he played,” Borrego said. “I thought he got better during that period but we have to make certain decisions here, and I’m comfortable with where we’re at. I think that’s more of a question for Mitch to answer.

“I can only speak for what he did on the floor in Vegas, and I thought he performed well and opened eyes and played at a higher level than I expected.”

The Hornets have 16 guaranteed contracts on the books plus Two-Way players Arnolda Kulboka and Scottie Lewis, which means they can go up and down between the NBA and the G League, but remain under team control and cannot be approached by other organizations.

The Hornets also have DJ Carton on an Exhibit 10 contract and Xavier Sneed on a non-guaranteed camp deal. That puts Charlotte’s team at the limit of 20 players.