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 attempted to relive their past glory, recapture their old energy, and rediscover their identity after departing from their beloved former venue, affectionately known as “The Hive”, for a more modern location in downtown. To put it plainly, these efforts have been as successful as a hornet colliding with the grille of a fast-moving car.

In all fairness, the Hornets had their share of decent seasons, though none managed to generate significant traction or create much buzz outside the city. The franchise was plagued by numerous unsuccessful drafts, coach dismissals, and simply unfortunate luck. For every standout player like Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry, who laid the groundwork and played thrilling basketball during the early to mid-1990s, there was a less successful Adam Morrison, Emeka Okafor, and a Zeller Brother, in this case, Cody.

Want to hear about the greatest mistake? In 1996, the Hornets drafted a high school teenager and promptly traded him 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 remains present, in a more jovial mood, with a sense of camaraderie echoing in the Spectrum Center during game nights. This can largely be attributed to the Hornets’ newfound stability — a welcome change — primarily thanks to a young player they managed to retain.

LaMelo Ball is skillfully distributing passes, which Miles Bridges completes with forceful finishes at the rim. In addition, a selection of other players in the rotation are providing enough support to grant the Hornets what they have long desired during the Jordan era: respectability, increased audience attendance, and a rise in league rankings. Currently, they hold an 11-8 record and are fifth in the Eastern Conference.

They’re indeed still developing, but it’s this progress that makes people believe this team isn’t just raising false hopes. This could be the best team Jordan has ever owned. Even though this may sound like being named the tallest person at a gathering of short people, the Hornets will gratefully accept any positive energy they can get.

“Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak, the man behind the personnel decisions driving this renovation, confirmed, “Michael is indeed happy. I believe he is pleased with the direction we’re moving in.”

The Hornets have already emerged victorious over the Nets and Warriors, who are presently leading the conference. They have an impressive 6-2 home record and are demonstrating their potential to recreate the buzzing atmosphere of their old Coliseum, known for being one of the loudest stadiums in the league. Intriguingly, the Hornets are attracting spectators even during away games owing to their dynamic style of play – they are far from being overlooked.

A lot of this can be attributed to LaMelo, the current Kia Rookie of the Year who has already established himself as a household name. His skills have improved in numerous areas and he continues to be a standout player who captivates and demands 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.

“Selecting my moments and allowing the game to approach me is what I’m doing,” said Ball. “My aim was to return as a more improved player.”

Being a good player in the NBA, where there are plenty of them, is one aspect. However, not all good players can captivate the crowd and become a box-office sensation. These types of players are harder to come by and are highly valuable.

Kupchak mentioned, “Jerry West often described certain players as having a touch of golden dust sprinkled on them from above. I believe LaMelo possesses that quality.”

During Jordan’s reign, the most shining star was Kemba Walker, with little to mention before him. Apart from Walker, Jordan has not seen any other All-Star in his team since he took full charge. This highlights the Hornets’ unsuccessful attempts to attract resonating players or find one through the Draft, trades, or free agency. It also points to the scarcity of impactful players in the club.

Even their pursuit of LaMelo, who has the potential to become an All-Star this year, was fraught with uncertainties and the possibility of failure.

Undoubtedly, LaMelo’s journey to the NBA was unconventional. He played for high schools in two separate states and professionally in two different countries. By that time, he was quite popular on social media and considered trendy by his peers, but was it all just hype? When he declared for the 2019 Draft, NBA scouts didn’t have much information on him, except that he was a five-star prep prospect. His time in Australia, his final destination before the NBA, was cut short after just 12 games due to a foot injury.

The Hornets had a stroke of luck in the Draft lottery, advancing from eighth to third place, which brought LaMelo into their purview. However, he was seen as a gamble to some extent, primarily because there wasn’t much information on him. He didn’t participate in college basketball, limiting the amount of research the Hornets could conduct.

“Kupchak shared that they had visited Australia to watch him practice two or three times and also attended two of his games. However, he stopped playing due to an injury, eight months before the draft. Kupchak stated they had several Zoom calls with him. They flew to L.A. a week prior to the draft for a 40-minute individual workout. That concluded their interaction,” he said.

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 has always been present, but his decision-making skills as the point guard has enhanced,” Hornets coach James Borrego stated. “His turnovers have reduced, and his comprehension of time and score scenarios have improved. He has returned as a stronger defender. Above all, his leadership skills have improved significantly, and he has gained more trust in his teammates.”

Kupchak further stated, “I’ve played alongside Pete Maravich, and they share similar skills. However, Pete’s games attracted few spectators. The surest way to fill a stadium is by winning games. I tend to be cautious about overpraising a player prematurely. While he definitely possesses charisma and a unique playing style, he still has a long way to go. Ultimately, it all boils down to winning games.”

Player acquisition also plays a significant role in winning. Since Kupchak was appointed in 2018, there has been a complete overhaul of the front office and coaching staff. His draft picks have included Bridges and LaMelo, and he has managed to bring productive NBA veterans such as Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre to the team through offseason transactions.

Bridges and the Hornets were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension this fall, which led Bridges to take a gamble on his own abilities. The results have been positive so far, with Bridges enjoying his best season yet. He is currently standing out as one of the NBA’s top performers in restricted area scoring and 3-pointers made.

“Guarding Miles when he’s in attack mode is challenging,” said Rozier. “His size and aggression have been consistent throughout the year.”

The Hornets recently had a tough trip to the West Coast where they suffered four losses out of five games. However, apart from this, they’ve been doing well, winning six out of their last seven games. In their Monday victory against Washington, Rozier scored eight 3-pointers. Their win against the Warriors was particularly exciting as it was only the second defeat for the Warriors and it happened on the Hornets’ home ground, boosting the confidence of their increasingly optimistic fans.

Thirty years ago, the Hornets were a major draw in the NBA, consistently leading in attendance at the 23,000-seat Coliseum, and they were the sole attraction in the city. However, following the Coliseum’s demolition, both the team and the new building had difficulty establishing a sense of unity. This situation is likely improving currently. In the previous season, fans missed out on LaMelo’s spectacular rookie year due to the pandemic, but that is not the case anymore.

“Kupchak expressed his joy for the fans in the stadium, stating that their excitement was palpable. However, he emphasized that the players were the ones who benefitted the most. He reflected on the previous year and a half when they had to play in empty stadiums. Despite their hard work, the lack of response was noticeable. With people now filling the stadium, particularly after a road trip, the energy boost is significant. He made a special mention of the Knicks game where the spectators remained standing for most of the second half, emphasizing the importance of their presence,” Kupchak said.

The current situation appears very favorable for the Hornets, however, the harsh reality of the NBA can be ruthless. The Hornets now face the challenge of proving their ability to sustain their momentum over the forthcoming five months, or potentially falter under the pressure of heightened expectations. Given that they are primarily a youthful team, the outcome could swing either way.

At the very least, this LaMelo team seems to be gaining more credibility than the Kemba Walker teams. However, this team is still a work in progress. A suitable comparison would be the Hawks, who over the years, have accumulated and nurtured young talent enough to ascend to the next level and make it to the Eastern Conference finals last season.

“Getting to the playoffs or winning one round is not our ultimate goal,” said Kupchak. “I aim to progress further. I aspire to exceed what Atlanta achieved last year 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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