'This is just rare, what you are seeing'
Hornets' LaMelo Ball is the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double
Earlier in the week, hours before he watched him take the floor for the second time in three nights against his team, Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers gave his initial assessment of LaMelo Ball.
Let’s just say Rivers was quite bullish on the Hornets’ first-round pick.
“I love him,” Rivers said. “I had a man crush on Luka (Dončić) his rookie year. I think LaMelo, he’s going to be terrific. Seems like he has that just knack for the ball often when he’s on defense, rebounding-wise. And his vision is incredible. So Charlotte has a great one.”
And that was prior to what we’ve witnessed these past four games.
Ball punctuated an impressive week with a record-making performance in the Hornets’ 113-105 victory over the Hawks at Spectrum Center on Saturday night. In posting a career-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and 11 assists, he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
What’s more: it came on the heels of Friday night’s showing in New Orleans, when he got some bragging rights on big brother Lonzo thanks to the Hornets’ win over the Pelicans. And, oh yeah, he also finished one assist shy of a triple-double after tossing in 12 points and collecting 10 rebounds.
His confidence and self-assurance is already evident.
“He is not rattled by the moment,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “It’s like he’s been doing this for a number of years. A 19-year-old rookie does not look like this. This is just rare, what you’re seeing. I think the biggest surprise has been the person. I keep saying it — I just can’t get over this kid. He’s just a wonderful person to be around. He’s humble. He’s genuine. He’s coachable.”
Now 19 years and 140 days old, Ball is just the ninth player in league history to post a triple-double in 10 games or fewer. He admitted he knew he was close to doing it on Friday, but wasn’t about to give himself any proverbial congratulatory pats on the back for stuffing the stat sheet in record fashion some 24 hours later.
“Yeah, I’ve not really processed it yet,” Ball said. “Probably when I look back on it after my career when I’m 40 or something, then I’ll probably look back at everything.”
You may not be aware, but Ball also registered a triple-double during his time playing for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League, the team he suited up for prior to entering last year’s draft. Talk about a rarity.
“I feel like it’s a great accomplishment, but I feel like it lies on for my family,” Ball said. “I feel like they’re more proud of me, so good for my mom and pop. But for me, like I said, I just go out there and play basketball.”
In helping guide the Hornets to their third straight win, something they accomplished on only three occasions a season ago, Ball canned his first seven shots, doing it from all over the court — including beyond the arc.
It was his seventh straight game topping double digits in points, making that scoreless output in the season opener in Cleveland feel like eons ago. Through 10 games, he’s averaging 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 24.9 minutes.
Ball’s early play has drawn praise from plenty, including some well-respected voices. Jeff Van Gundy was very complimentary of Ball’s game during Friday’s national broadcast on ESPN. And on the Hawks’ broadcast on Fox Sports Southeast, analyst and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins was impressed with Ball’s penchant for looking for contact while driving in the lane. Among other things.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Wilkins said. “I didn’t know what type of player he was going to turn out to be. I knew he had some size, he had ball-handling ability and passing ability. But he’s much, much more. He is a special talent and at 19 years old to do what he’s done — not just tonight, every night he gets on the floor, he’s being a factor out on the floor. He’s a lot better than I ever thought. He’s going to be a really, really great player if he continues on the road that he’s on now. He’s really going to change some minds in this league.”
Wilkins also said of Ball: “I think he’s an outstanding rebounder, and (as a) passer he’s extraordinary.”
He’s certainly appears to have been gifted with brilliant court vision. He’s racked up at least five assists in each of his last eight outings and is averaging 8.5 assists in his last four games.
Against the Hawks, there was one pass in which Ball hung in the air and at the very last second before he was about to land on the floor after getting two defenders to leave their feet, he dumped it off to PJ Washington right underneath the basket. Washington easily converted the feed, luckily keeping those hands ready.
Consider it a necessity when your Ball’s teammate. Head on a swivel indeed.
“It’s tough, though, because you don’t know when it’s coming,” Washington said. “He can throw it behind his head, behind his back and or throw it straight to you. So you’ve just got to be active and aware when he has the ball, just knowing it might come to you. So just be ready to go up and finish. He’s a great passer, always looking to get everybody else the ball. So it’s always fun playing with a guy like that.”
Trae Young and the Hawks saw Ball twice during this past week, too. Young wasn’t the least bit surprised by the things the 6-foot-7 teenager pulled out of his repertoire.
“‘Melo is doing stuff that I expected him to do,” Young said. “He is a tall [point guard] who can pass and obviously rebound. He’s just a smart player. The games are going to become a lot easier for him as he plays more and more games in this league. I am just happy to see he is doing really well.”
As are the Hornets.
“‘'Melo looks great,” Washington said. “His whole life he’s been playing up — he’s played against top competition his whole life. So I don’t think this is anything new for him. He’s just coming in here learning and asking a lot of questions. He wants to be the best version of himself. We love him here and he’s playing his butt off. So, I’m just glad he’s on our team.”
Borrego said: “He just continuously gets better and he’s a special player. He’s not fazed by the moment. It’s like he’s been doing this for a number of years already and he was special tonight — playmaking, shot making, on the boards, made the right decisions. He’s a special player and I love the person. I love the kid. More than anything I love his spirit. I love what he brings to our locker room, our organization and I’m just proud of him. He’s fantastic. He was fantastic tonight.”
Melo has been closing games, which is more telling of the confidence Borrego has in him. I just have to ask, should Melo be starting?
I still can't really tell if these Hornets are good or not, but they're fun as hell. And after the last several seasons I'll take it.