In his first career NBA start, LaMelo Ball put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Ball helped lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 129-121 win against the Miami Heat. This adds to the growing list of versatile performances in his campaign for Rookie of The Year.
Starting guard, Terry Rozier was sidelined with an injury, allowing the rookie to start in his place. Ball struggled with his shot throughout the game, going 3/11 from the field. However, he still made an impact by executing plays down the stretch. This led to an overtime victory on the road. He was also coming off a career-high 27 point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks last Saturday. In January, he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
Currently ranked 2nd on the Kia Rookie Ladder, with season averages of 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, Ball only trails Golden State Warriors rookie James Wiseman. Wiseman is currently averaging 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
