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, recapture their old energy, and rediscover their identity after moving from their beloved former home, “The Hive”, to a new location downtown. To put it plainly, these attempts have been as unsuccessful as a hornet colliding with the grill of a fast-moving car.

In all fairness, there were a few respectable seasons scattered about, but none that really caught on or generated much excitement for the Hornets beyond the boundaries of the city. The franchise was plagued by a multitude of poor draft choices, managerial instability, and just plain bad luck. For every standout player like Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry – who laid the groundwork and played captivating basketball in the early to mid-nineties – there was an underperformer like Adam Morrison, Emeka Okafor, and a member of the Zeller family (Cody, in this instance).

Do you want to hear about the greatest mistake? In 1996, the Hornets selected a high school teen in the draft, only to trade him right away for Vlade Divac. That teenager was none other than 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, and his mood is brighter. There’s a friendly buzz in the Spectrum Center during game nights. This is primarily because the Hornets appear to be finally built to last – mainly due to a young player they managed to retain this time.

LaMelo Ball is impressively executing slick passes, with Miles Bridges assertively finishing them off at the rim. Alongside them, a variety of other rotational players are contributing sufficiently to provide the Hornets what they’ve long desired during the Jordan era: credibility, fan support, and an ascent in the standings. Currently, they hold a record of 11-8 and sit in fifth place in the East.

They are clearly still developing, but the crucial element here is ‘progress’. This is what gives people hope that this team isn’t just a false promise. This could potentially be the best team Jordan has ever had. Though it might seem like being labeled the tallest man at a convention of short people, the Hornets are open to any positive energy that comes their way.

“Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak, who has been instrumental in initiating this renovation through his personnel decisions, confirmed, “Michael is indeed happy. I believe he appreciates the path we’re on.”

The Hornets have already claimed victories over the Nets and Warriors, who are currently leading the conference. With a home record of 6-2, they are making the most of their opportunity to recreate the vibrant atmosphere of the old Coliseum, known for being the most raucous arena in the league. In addition, the Hornets are not overlooked, attracting crowds at away games due to their dynamic and fluid style of play.

A lot of this can be attributed to LaMelo, the current Kia Rookie of the Year who has already become known by his first name only. He has shown improvement in several areas and continues to be a standout talent that commands and captures your attention.

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.

“Choosing my moments carefully and allowing the game to flow naturally is my strategy,” said Ball. “I aimed to return as a superior player.”

Being a good player in the NBA is common, but not every talented player is a crowd-pleaser or box-office player. These types are rarer and highly valued.

Kupchak said, “Jerry West had a saying about certain players, likening them to having a bit of gold dust sprinkled from above. I believe LaMelo possesses that quality.”

During Jordan’s reign, Kemba Walker was the most shining talent. Before Walker…there wasn’t much to note. Since Jordan took complete control of the team, Walker has been the only All-Star. This highlights the scarcity of impactful players and the Hornets’ numerous failed attempts to find one, whether via the Draft, trades, or free agency.

Even their chase for LaMelo, who might break into the All-Star league this year, was riddled with uncertainties and the possibility of failure.

LaMelo’s journey to the NBA was anything but conventional. He played for two separate high schools in two different states and also played professionally in two different countries. By that time, he had already gained popularity on social media and was considered trendy among his peers, but was it just hype? When he entered the 2019 Draft, NBA scouts didn’t have much information on him, except that he was a five-star prep prospect. His stint in Australia, his final destination before the NBA, was cut short to just 12 games due to a foot injury.

In the Draft lottery, the Hornets had a stroke of luck, advancing from the eighth position to No. 3, which brought LaMelo into their consideration. However, he was seen as somewhat of a gamble, primarily due to the lack of available data to analyze. LaMelo never played college ball, which limited the amount of research that the Hornets could conduct.

“Kupchak narrated, “We had a trip to Australia where we watched him practice a couple of times and also attended two of his games. Eight months later, there was the draft. However, he had stopped playing due to an injury. We managed to have a few Zoom meetings with him. A week prior to the draft, we travelled to L.A. for a personal workout with him which lasted for 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.

“Hornets coach James Borrego has observed improvements in his point guard’s overall decision making, stating, “His playmaking has always been strong, but now his choices on the court are even better.” He added that the player’s turnovers have decreased and his comprehension of time and score situations has improved. Borrego also commented on the player’s enhanced physical defense and leadership skills, and his increased trust in his teammates.

Kupchak further adds, “Pete Maravich and I used to play together, and they have identical skills. However, not many people attended Pete’s games. The real way to attract crowds is through winning games. I’m always cautious about over-praising a player too soon. He definitely has charisma and a certain flair in his playing style. But he still has a long path ahead, and ultimately, it’s all about winning games.”

Player acquisition also contributes to winning. Since Kupchak was hired in 2018, there has been a complete change in the front office and coaching staff. His drafts resulted in Bridges and LaMelo, and he recruited productive NBA veterans like Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre through offseason moves.

Bridges and the Hornets couldn’t reach a consensus on a contract extension this fall, leading Bridges to take a gamble on himself – a gamble that is paying off. He’s enjoying his best season yet, ranking among the top in restricted area scoring and made 3-pointers in the NBA.

“Rozier stated, “Miles becomes difficult to defend when he’s in attack mode. He’s imposing and assertive, and he’s maintained this demeanor all year.”

The Hornets recently had a challenging trip to the West Coast where they suffered four losses in five games. However, aside from this, they have been thriving, winning six out of their last seven games. In the Monday victory against Washington, Rozier managed to score eight 3-pointers. The victory over the Warriors was doubly enjoyable as Charlotte not only handed the Warriors their second loss, but it also happened at home, increasing the faith of their fans.

Thirty years ago, the Hornets were regularly leading the NBA in attendance at the 23,000-seat Coliseum, being the sole attraction in the city. However, after the Coliseum was demolished, the team and the new venue had difficulty establishing a shared understanding. But, it seems like this could be changing now. Fans missed out on LaMelo’s impressive rookie season last year due to the pandemic, but this year appears to be different.

“Kupchack expressed his joy for the fans present in the stadium, acknowledging their enthusiasm. However, he emphasized that the players are the ones benefiting the most. He pointed out how challenging the last year and a half has been with games played in empty stadiums. Despite their competitive spirit, the lack of response was palpable. Now, with the return of the crowd, the players can feed off their energy, particularly after returning from a road trip. Kupchak emphasized its importance, recalling how the fans remained standing for almost the entire second half during the game against the Knicks,” Kupchak said.

The Hornets are currently in a promising position, but the harsh reality of the NBA grind could be brutal. Whether they can sustain their momentum over the next five months or crumble under heightened expectations remains to be seen. Given that they’re predominantly a young team, the outcome could swing either way.

At the very least, it seems that this LaMelo team, in contrast to the Kemba Walker teams, is gaining the benefit of the doubt. The team is still a work in progress; a fitting comparison would be with the Hawks, who over time accumulated and nurtured enough young talent to escalate to the next level and make it to the Eastern Conference finals last season.

“Our objective is not merely to reach the playoffs, or to win just one round,” Kupchak stated. “I aspire to progress further. I aim to emulate what Atlanta accomplished last year and go even a step further.”

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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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