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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