LaMelo Ball renews spark in Hornets, much to Michael Jordan's delight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just inside a mixed-use development near the Billy Graham Parkway where babies are strolled and coffee is sipped, there is a small stone marker with a familiar sight preserved in bronze on the facade, providing a clue to what this place was before the developers arrived.

This was once the site of the old Charlotte Coliseum, which drew enormous crowds and somehow still had enough room for all 5-foot-3 inches of Muggsy Bogues. On the plaque commemorating the Coliseum, there’s an inscription by the great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, that reads: “Look not mournfully into the past, it comes back not again. Wisely improve the present and go forth to meet the future with optimism and without fear.”

Over the past several decades, the Hornets have been attempting to replicate their past glory, recreate the energy, and reestablish their identity after moving from their beloved “The Hive” to a modern downtown location. To put it frankly, these efforts have been as successful as a hornet colliding with the grill of a fast-moving car.

While there were a few decent seasons sprinkled throughout, none managed to garner any significant momentum or generate much excitement for the Hornets beyond the borders of their home city. The franchise was plagued by a series of unfortunate draft picks, frequent coach turnovers, and a general run of bad luck. Although they did have standout players like Muggsy, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry — who were instrumental in their thrilling performances in the early to mid-90s — they also had their fair share of less successful players, like Adam Morrison, Emeka Okafor, and Cody Zeller.

Want to hear about the greatest mistake? In 1996, the Hornets selected a high school teenager in the draft and promptly traded him for Vlade Divac. That young player turned out to be Kobe Bryant.

You want to know the ultimate irony? This team has been owned by legendary six-time NBA champ Michael Jordan since 2010, yet has reached the playoffs three times since 2004.

Jordan is still present, exhibiting a more cheerful demeanor, and there’s a friendly buzz in the Spectrum Center on game nights. This is primarily due to the Hornets’ newfound stability, which is largely attributed to a young player they managed to retain this time around.

LaMelo Ball’s slick passes, expertly finished by Miles Bridges at the rim, along with the contribution of various rotational players, are fulfilling the Hornets’ long-standing desire for credibility, crowds, and improved standings in the Jordan era. Currently, they are fifth in the East with an 11-8 record.

They’re still developing, but it’s the forward movement that leads people here to believe this team isn’t just leading them on. This might be the greatest team Jordan has ever led, and although that could be compared to being named the tallest man at a convention for short people, the Hornets welcome all the positivity they can gather.

“Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak, responsible for the personnel decisions that spearheaded this renovation, confirmed, “I am certain that Michael is happy. I believe he appreciates the path we’re on.”

The Hornets have triumphed over the Nets and Warriors, the reigning conference leaders. They have a 6-2 home record, demonstrating their capability to emulate the ambiance of their former home, the Coliseum, renowned for its notorious loudness. What’s more, the Hornets are not overlooked, attracting followers during their away games due to their fluid style of play.

A lot of this can be attributed to LaMelo, who is not only the reigning Kia Rookie of the Year but has also achieved first-name-only player status. His skills have improved in various areas, and his remarkable talent, which constantly demands and commands attention, continues to be a highlight.

Keep in mind that he turned 20 just three months ago but his game is much more seasoned than that. He leads the Hornets in rebounds (8.4 rpg), steals (2.1 spg) and assists (7.7 apg) and constantly feeds the team’s leading scorer, Bridges (20.8 ppg), with passes that lead to high percentage shots. His shooting efficiency remains under construction and, like his teammates, defense is a concern. But otherwise, LaMelo is exactly the type of young centerpiece needed by the Hornets. He’s averaging nearly a triple-double over his last three games (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 9.0 apg) and has three 30-point games to date this season.

“Selectively choosing my moments and allowing the game to unfold naturally is my strategy,” said Ball. “My objective was to return as a more improved player.”

Being a good player in the NBA is common, but not all good players can captivate the crowd and become box-office stars. These types of players are rare and extremely valuable.

“Jerry West often used a term for exceptional players; he would say they had a bit of gold dust sprinkled on them from above,” said Kupchak. “I believe LaMelo possesses that quality.”

During Jordan’s reign, Kemba Walker was the most outstanding talent. Before Walker, there was not much notable talent. Since Jordan took full control of the club, Walker has been his only All-Star player. This highlights the absence of impactful players and the numerous missed opportunities by the Hornets to find one, whether through drafts, trades, or free agency.

Even their chase for LaMelo, who has the potential to break into the All-Star league this year, was fraught with uncertainties and the risk of failure.

LaMelo’s journey to the NBA was certainly unconventional. He played at two high schools in two different states, as well as professionally in two countries. He was a hit on social media and popular among his peers, but was it all just hype? When he entered the 2019 Draft, NBA scouts didn’t have much information on him, other than his five-star prep prospect status. A foot injury ended his Australian stint prematurely, after just 12 games, before he finally made it to the NBA.

The Hornets experienced good fortune in the Draft lottery, advancing from eighth to third place, which brought LaMelo into their sights. However, he was viewed as somewhat of a gamble due to the lack of available information about him. His decision not to play college ball meant that the amount of research the Hornets could conduct was restricted.

“Kupchak said, “We travelled to Australia and watched him practice a couple of times and also saw two of his games. He didn’t play any further due to an injury, with the draft being eight months away. We managed to have a few Zoom conversations with him. A week prior to the draft, we flew to L.A. for a personal workout session that took about 40 minutes. That was all.”

Anthony Edwards went No. 1 to the Wolves as expected. Then the Warriors, choosing second, went big with James Wiseman. That left LaMelo — would he be another big miss by the Hornets or a talented crowd-pleaser? So far, LaMelo is filling stat sheets and arena seats.

“His playmaking abilities were always present, but his decision-making skills as the point guard have seen significant improvement,” Hornets coach James Borrego stated. “He’s making fewer turnovers, and his comprehension of time and score situations has improved. He has developed into a more robust defender. Above all, his leadership skills have improved, and he has gained more trust in his teammates.”

Kupchak further states, “I shared the court with Pete Maravich, and they possess similar skills. However, Pete’s games didn’t draw large crowds. Winning games is the true way to attract an audience. I always hesitate to place too much emphasis on a player prematurely. While he certainly has charisma and a unique style of play, he still has much to accomplish. Ultimately, success is measured by winning games.”

Victory is also dependent on superior player recruitment. Since Kupchak was appointed in 2018, the front office and coaching staff have been completely revamped. His drafts yielded players like Bridges and LaMelo, and through offseason maneuvers, he attracted productive NBA veterans such as Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre.

Bridges and the Hornets were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension this fall, so Bridges is taking a gamble on his own abilities and it appears to be paying off. He is currently having the best season of his career and is among the leading NBA players in restricted area scoring and three-pointers.

“Miles becomes difficult to defend when he’s in attack mode,” said Rozier. “He’s large, assertive, and has maintained this intensity throughout the year.”

The Hornets recently experienced a challenging West Coast trip, losing four out of five games. However, they have generally been thriving, winning six out of their last seven games. Rozier was particularly impressive in Monday’s victory over Washington, scoring eight 3-pointers. The victory against the Warriors was doubly enjoyable as it not only marked the Warriors’ second loss, but it also occurred at home, boosting the confidence of their growing fan base.

Thirty years ago, the Hornets consistently topped the NBA in terms of attendance at the 23,000-seat Coliseum and were the main attraction in the city. However, after the Coliseum was demolished, both the team and the new stadium had difficulty achieving harmony. This situation is likely improving now. The pandemic prevented fans from witnessing LaMelo’s impressive rookie season last year, but this is no longer the case.

“Seeing the fans in the building brings me joy,” commented Kupchak. “They are fully engaged. However, the players reap the greatest benefit. Competing in empty arenas in the last year and a half was tough. They gave their all, but there was no feedback. The presence of spectators in the stadium, particularly after a road trip, provides a boost of energy. It’s a significant factor. They were on their feet almost the entire second half during the game against the Knicks.”

The future looks bright for the Hornets at the moment, but the relentless pressure of the NBA can be ruthless. The Hornets will prove whether they have what it takes to sustain their momentum over the next five months, or falter under the burden of heightened expectations. Being predominantly a young team, the outcome could swing either way.

At the very least, there is a feeling that this LaMelo team, unlike the Kemba Walker teams, is gaining the benefit of the doubt. After all, they are still a work in progress. The most suitable comparison would be with the Hawks, who have amassed and nurtured enough youthful talent over time to elevate their game and make it to the Eastern Conference finals last season.

Kupchak stated, “Our objective is not merely to reach the playoffs or win a single round. I aspire to progress further. I aim to emulate Atlanta’s achievement from last year and even surpass it by advancing an additional round.”

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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