I’d say that’s a good stat line to kick off your All-Star career.
LaMelo Ball was the lone representative for the Charlotte Hornets this All-Star Weekend appearing in the Rising stars Challenge, the All-Star Game, and doing so donning a purple suit at the end.
LaMelo fit as much as anybody there.
He scored the 3rd most points for Team Durant in the big boy game scoring 18, hitting 50 percent of his eight 3’s, and dished out a few assists including one between his legs.
It’s just his 2nd year in the league, and he made it to the All-Star Game. It’s tough company to reach, you’re talking Hall of Famer type territory.
Even if you want to count the caveat of him being a first reserve, those guys get in basically every year.
It got me thinking, how does his accomplishment compare to other Hornets greats?
There were a couple of other stars to reach the game in just their 2nd year. Larry Johnson was one, but surprisingly would only achieve that feat again just once more in his career, his 2nd to last season with the Hornets.
Alonzo Mourning came into the league immediately awesome. One of the best defenders in the league averaging close to 20 points a game, he was named an all star by his sophomore campaign too, but would leave the Hornets after just 3 years.
Baron Davis reached it his 3rd year, but the team would leave for New Orleans right after that.
It took a long time for Kemba to get there and his celebrated as a “never give up story” more than an immediate success.
If you compare his all-Star debut stat line to other Charlotte Hornets who appeared in the game, it was pretty clearly the best. And that’s not just Hornets draftees, I’m talking about guys like Glenn Rice and Eddie Jones too.
It doesn’t mean that he’s already better than those guys were, but he’s checking off all the boxes along the way that suggest he could be.
LaMelo is on a path that suggests he could be the best Charlotte Hornet of all time, and all at 20 years old. Sure you have players move around a lot more, but at the beginning of their career you do have contractual control.
As long as they’re happy, they hopefully don’t leave. The longevity is what we’re looking for to become the best Hornets ever, because the ability is already there.
