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 endeavoured to replicate their past glory, rekindle their old noise, and rediscover their identity since moving from their beloved former home, “The Hive”, to a newer location downtown. To put it plainly, their attempts ended as successfully as a hornet colliding with the grille of a fast-moving car.

In all fairness, there were sporadic seasons of merit, but none that brought the Hornets much recognition beyond the city’s borders. The franchise’s downfall was largely due to repeated poor drafts, frequent coaching changes, and sheer bad luck. For every Muggsy, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dell Curry – exceptional players who set the groundwork and played thrilling basketball in the early- to mid-1990s – there was an Adam Morrison, an Emeka Okafor, and a Zeller Brother (Cody, to be specific).

Do you want to hear about the greatest mistake? In 1996, the Hornets selected a high school teenager in the draft, only to trade him immediately 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 and is in a better mood. There is a friendly atmosphere at the Spectrum Center during game nights, largely due to the Hornets’ solid team structure. This is primarily attributed to a young player they managed to retain.

LaMelo Ball is executing smooth passes while Miles Bridges authoritatively completes them at the rim. A handful of other players in rotation are contributing sufficiently to provide the Hornets with the credibility and audience they’ve longed for during the Jordan era. They’re also rising in the standings, currently sitting in fifth place in the East with an 11-8 record.

They are definitely still developing, but it’s the progress that makes people believe this team isn’t just a cruel joke. This might end up being the greatest team Jordan has ever owned. Although that might seem like being named the tallest man at a convention of short men, the Hornets are happy to accept any positive energy they can get.

“Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak, who is responsible for the personnel decisions that sparked this renovation, confirmed, ‘Michael is happy. I believe he is pleased with the direction we’re heading in.'”

The Hornets have already emerged victorious against the Nets and Warriors, who are presently leading the conference. They have displayed a promising performance at home with a 6-2 record, evoking the energetic atmosphere of their former arena, the Coliseum, which was frequently the noisiest in the league. Additionally, the Hornets have been attracting fans during their road games due to their fluid playing style. They are no longer considered insignificant.

A lot of this can be attributed to LaMelo, the current Kia Rookie of the Year who’s already recognized by his first name alone. He has shown improvement in numerous areas and continues to be a standout player who requires and dictates 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 spots and letting the game approach me is my current strategy,” said Ball. “My aim was to return as an improved player.”

Being a good player in the NBA is common, but not all good players possess the ability to captivate the crowd and become a box-office sensation. These types of players are rarer and hold significant value.

“Jerry West had a saying about some players, referring to them as having a little gold dust sprinkled on them from above,” said Kupchak. “I believe LaMelo is one of those players.”

During Jordan’s reign, Kemba Walker stood out as the most brilliant talent. Prior to Walker, there wasn’t much to speak of. Since Jordan took over the club, Walker has been the only All-Star. This underlines the scarcity of impactful players and the Hornets’ repeated failures in acquiring one, whether via the Draft, trades, or free agency.

Even their chase after LaMelo, who might break into the All-Star league this year, was fraught with uncertainties and chances of failure.

LaMelo’s journey to the NBA was anything but conventional. He played in two high schools across two states and professionally in two nations. Already a popular figure on social media and deemed ‘cool’ by his peers, there was speculation about how much of this was just hype. When he announced his intent to participate in the 2019 Draft, NBA scouts didn’t have much information on him, except for his five-star prep prospect status. His tour in Australia, which was his final stint before the NBA, ended after just 12 games due to a foot injury.

The Hornets experienced good fortune in the Draft lottery, advancing from the eighth to the third position, and LaMelo abruptly emerged on their radar. However, he was viewed to some extent as a gamble, primarily due to the lack of substantial information to analyze. LaMelo’s absence from college ball meant that the Hornets had limited resources for their research.

“Kupchak said, “We visited Australia and observed him practicing two or three times and watched two games. He didn’t play after his injury and the draft was eight months later. We conducted a few Zoom calls with him. The week prior to the draft, we traveled to L.A. for a 40-minute individual workout. 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 noted that while his playmaking ability has always been present, his decision-making skills as the point guard have seen significant improvement. Borrego pointed out that his turnovers have decreased and his grasp of the game’s time and score situations has improved. Additionally, he has returned to the game as a more robust defender and a better overall leader, displaying greater trust in his teammates.

Kupchak further states, “I had the privilege to play alongside Pete Maravich and they share a similar skill set. However, Pete’s games didn’t attract a large audience. The true method to draw crowds is through victories. I’m always hesitant to heap too much praise on a player prematurely. He certainly possesses charisma and exudes a unique style in his gameplay. Nevertheless, he still has a long journey ahead and ultimately, it’s all about winning games.”

Victory is also dependent on superior player acquisition. Since Kupchak’s appointment in 2018, there has been a complete overhaul of the front office and coaching staff. His draft selections yielded players like Bridges and LaMelo, and he successfully recruited productive NBA veterans like Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre through offseason maneuvers.

Bridges and the Hornets failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension this fall, leading Bridges to take a gamble on himself, a gamble that seems to be paying off. He is experiencing the best season of his career so far, ranking among the NBA leaders in restricted area scoring and successful 3-pointers.

“Rozier stated, “When Miles goes on the offensive, it’s challenging to defend against him. He’s large and assertive, and he’s maintained this approach throughout the year.”

The Hornets recently experienced a challenging West Coast trip, losing four out of five games. However, they have been thriving otherwise, winning six out of their last seven matches. In Monday’s victory over Washington, Rozier scored eight 3-pointers. The defeat of the Warriors was particularly enjoyable, as it not only marked the Warriors’ second loss, but it also took place on the Hornets’ home turf, boosting the faith of their local supporters.

Thirty years ago, the Hornets were consistently leading the NBA in attendance at the 23,000-seat Coliseum, being the sole attraction in the city. However, following the destruction of the stadium, the team and the new arena faced difficulties in establishing harmony. This situation is likely evolving now. The previous season saw fans missing out on LaMelo’s impressive rookie year due to the pandemic, but this is no longer the case.

Kupchak expressed his happiness for the fans in the building, saying they’re really into the game. However, he highlighted that the biggest advantage is for the players. He recalled how they played in empty buildings for the last year and a half, competing fiercely but without any response. He explained that having people in the building, particularly after returning from a road trip, provides a boost of energy. He emphasized its importance, mentioning how the fans remained standing throughout the second half of the game against the Knicks.

The Hornets are currently in a promising position, but the harsh reality of the NBA can be unkind. Over the next five months, the Hornets will either demonstrate that they have the ability to sustain their momentum or falter due to heightened expectations. Being predominantly a young team, the outcome could swing either way.

At the very least, there’s a feeling that this LaMelo team, unlike the Kemba Walker teams, is gaining credibility. Moreover, it’s still a work in progress; a good analogy would be the Hawks, who over time accumulated and nurtured enough young talent to elevate their game 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 aspire to progress further. I want to replicate Atlanta’s performance 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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