LaMelo Ball was picked 3rd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 NBA Draft. Naturally, being selected so high came with big expectations for the young point guard to deliver on the court as quickly as possible.
During Melo's adjustment process to the league, then-Hornets owner Michael Jordan kept a close eye on the progress being made. Initially, MJ saw the rookie struggle quite a bit; however, Ball eventually found his rhythm, earning praise from the NBA icon.
"I think Melo has adapted to the NBA game better than any of us thought at the beginning of his career. He has exceeded our expectations so far this season," Jordan remarked in March of 2021, per nbamaniacs.
LaMelo initially took a seat on the bench
Ball's unconventional journey to the NBA included stops in the Lithuanian and Australian leagues, which were meant to provide valuable experience competing against pro players at a young age. However, this intended maturity wasn't immediately apparent when he came to Charlotte.
While sometimes intriguingly flashy, Melo's preseason performances with his new team included frustrating moments, such as inefficient shooting. In the first and last preseason games, Ball was a combined 1-for-15 from the field and 0-for-7 from three-point range. Then-Hornets coach James Borrego emphasized the need to improve that and other aspects when evaluating the rookie's early performances.
"He's [Ball] got to understand shot selection. He's got to understand defensive coverages. He's got to value both ends of the floor. Those are things I've seen pretty consistently throughout camp," Borrego said , per Yahoo Sports.
Given such blunt feedback from the head coach, it was no surprise that LaMelo started the 2020-21 regular season on the bench behind his then-teammates, guards Devonte' Graham and Terry Rozier.
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Going for the ROY title
Ball debuted just before Christmas, finishing with no points, one rebound, three assists, and two steals in 16 minutes. Gradually, he began to find his rhythm. This evident improvement and injuries in the Hornets' lineup soon made the California native a regular starter.
The 6'7" guard began to impress, and his talent didn't go unnoticed by the league. Becoming a mainstay for the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, the NBA debutant won the title in January, February, and March. Ball's impact only grew as the season progressed, finishing with averages of 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in 51 games. These stellar performances earned Melo the 2021 ROY Year award , edging out the T-Wolves' Anthony Edwards and the Kings' Tyrese Haliburton.
Additionally, securing a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team, these honors meant that LaMelo followed in the footsteps of his team's owner, Jordan. The legendary MJ had achieved the same feat approximately 36 years earlier during his 1984-85 debut season with the Chicago Bulls .
'His Airness' would continue to closely monitor Ball's impressive, yet often injury-plagued, development in the following years before selling his majority stake in the Hornets in 2023.
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