Quarterbacking a purist poetry in motion, perfect pass down-court, LaMelo Ball lets it all fly in Buzz City.
Finding all-star teammate Gordon Hayward with the object of his last namesake and such precision, it’s like the former Celtic has magnets in his hands and the sphere was made of metal. Without hesitating Hayward receives the ball, finds his sweet spot on the baseline and executes a fade-away as perfect as the ownership one on the lapel of his Nike Jumpman, Charlotte Hornets jersey.
Dime. Swish. Beautiful basketball.
34 points. Charlotte 109, New York Knicks (a good New York Knicks too), 88. Fourth straight win for Jordan’s hive. $120 mill well spent.
These Hornets are a problem like picnics in the summer in the South of France.
But you know why Buzz City is buzzing when it comes to basketball.
It’s all about the new ‘Melo.
The one that started this fast-break and has no signs of slowing down.
New Orleans and Charlotte have shared many things. The Hornets. Chris Paul. But now they share the Ball brothers. This weekend the two young stars faced off for the first time in the NBA. The last time a young duel was this hyped we were looking at another ‘Melo and Lonzo’s former Laker teammate LeBron.
The New Orleans Pelicans versus the Charlotte Hornets. Lonzo vs LaMelo. Big brother vs little. Ball versus Ball.
The match-up didn’t disappoint.
Little brother took the torch too. Like Mike from Magic. Candy from a baby.
Lonzo, 5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a block and steal.
LaMelo, 12 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and a 118-110 Hornet win over the Pels.
“F’ outta here I got this!” Carmelo voice.
Young ‘Melo messed around so much like Ice Cube he almost got a triple double. Freaking opponents every way like MJ.
He almost rewrote the records.
In the next game he did.
22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in a 113-105 good Charlotte win over the Atlanta Hawks.
19 years and 140 days.
The youngest to ever do it.
Open the books. The rook made NBA history.
Now watch his story.
Like his Hornets coach James Borrego says, “a 19-year old rookie does not look like this.”
Don’t believe him? Just watch!
The number three pick in the 2020 NBA Draft is averaging 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals in only 25.3 minutes per. Not to mention a behind the back dish to serve the street-ball heads no looks for your And 1.
Rookie of the Year?
Maybe. It’s too early to tell.
Future of this game?
You’re damn right.
You can see it now like LaVar’s vision come to fruition. Lonzo leading a New Orleans team so stacked full of brass in their pocket they could have their own Crescent City parade in a few years. LiAngelo looking to make his way back in via the G-League after being cut by Detroit. The Ball family tree has already made it to the league. They’ve laid their roots.
This is the Ball dynasty.
And like the vocal sample on a A Tribe Called Quest records say it’s only going to, “keep bouncing”. This players bag is vinyl crate deep.
Keep your eye on the Ball.
