Lamelo Ball: the next dynasty leader?

Lamelo Ball has become one of the best players in the NBA this season, his performances have been astounding through his scoring and playmaking and it feels as if the Hornets could be close to becoming a top team with multiple young, homegrown talents looking to prove their worth and the worth of the Charlotte Hornets. The trajectory could be viewed as similar to Golden State and that’s what will be explored here.

Ball has only had 2 games scoring under 30 points and 4 games with more than 30 points. He has been the pure scorer that he is and is truly a weapon on the offensive end, yet, his team aren’t winning. It feels as if the other members of the team are not quite ready and need to be slotted into place. This reflects the situation in Golden State during the early years of Steph Curry; the Warriors were looking for players to build around and because of Curry’s injuries he may have been slightly overlooked until they eventually chose him over Monta Ellis and the team began to perform through players like Klay and Draymond. The Hornets need to find their Klay and Draymond, wether it’s Brandon Miller, Mark Williams or Salaun; Lamelo needs his team because he has found his footing and he is showing the league that he isn’t here to sit out anymore. Ball is becoming the player everyone always dreamed he would in high school and it’s beautiful to see in front of you. An injury free Lamelo makes the world of basketball a better place.

Lamelo clearly has a message for the league after playing only 58 games in the past two seasons and came into this season scoring 38 points after returning from injury and broke his record for threes (with 9) in the next game against Trae Young’s Hawks, where he went at Trae and the game became a competitive matchup made in heaven between them. Lamelo was pulling up from miles away as well as shooting fadeaway threes and showing his playmaking talents; allowing Miller, Tre Mann and others to get their shots up as well. He is clearly maturing, he understands not just the game of basketball but NBA basketball and has clearly put in a lot of work in the offseason into getting his own shot and playmaking, although, he won’t have needed much help as his natural talents had him drafted number 2 for a reason.

He is averaging 30 points and 6 assists, however, this hasn’t led to wins and they are 2-4. For Lamelo, he will feel that he is proving that his injury issues don’t mean that he isn’t one of the best players in the league and his rise is similar to that of Steph Curry. But why isn’t this leading to wins? They both struggled with ankle injuries, with Lamelo Ball playing 22 games last year and at a similar time in his career Steph played 26. But, when Steph began to look after his ankle’s better (permanently moving to wearing ankle braces) the Warriors began to be successful. If this is something that can happen for the Hornets they could end their 9 year drought without a playoff appearance. Lamelo has begun to support his ankles due to injuries and if he can play a full season the chemistry and team development could lead the Charlotte Hornets to great things for one of the only times in their history.

If Lamelo’s rise is going to be similar, him and the Charlotte Hornets could become a dynasty. They have lots of young talent in Brandon Miller and Mark Williams which they have drafted; similarly to Golden State and if they all develop together. They will be brothers. Brothers are hard to beat and we have seen it first hand with the 4 championships won by Steph, Klay and Draymond.

As basketball fans, there is no better player to follow than Lamelo Ball: since high school he has been the definition of flair and skill. Only improving with age. This season we seem to be seeing a developed Lamelo Ball and a man determined to drive his team towards wins through his physical and technical gifts, he has become a walking highlight reel this season and it feels every shot he puts up is going to be a bucket.

Let’s hope Lamelo can become one of the best players in the NBA this year as the Ball brothers, and their story, are both amazing and entertaining. The only issue is the management of the Charlotte Hornets, they have never experienced a winning season. However, prior to Steph Curry the Warriors were in a similar situation. If the reflections can become reality, watching the Hornets could be the best thing to do this season and I am buying as much stock in the Charlotte Hornets. Hypothetically.