Michael Jordan gives “A” to Lamelo Ball’s exercise

Charlotte. Rookie Lamelo Ball has caught the NBA’s attention this season with his fantasy passes and an amazing ability to score, including Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

The six-time NBA champion said that when the Hornets selected Ball with selection number three in the 2020 draw, they hoped that the cunning 6’6 ”-footed owner would eventually rise to the level of becoming an All-Star.

Jordan likes the way Ball is ‘trending’.

“I think Melo has adapted to the NBA game better than any of us thought early in his career,” Jordan told AP in an email. “It has exceeded our expectations so far this season.”

Ball leads all rookies in most statistical categories, including points (15.8), assists (6.3), rebounds (6) and steals (1.6) per game.

More importantly, the Ball game, which includes a variety of skillful, threaded passes, has brought some of the dynamism and star potential needed to a franchise plunged into darkness for years. The Hornets have a 17-18 record entering the All-Star Retreat, just one game behind fourth-placed Boston Celtics in the ultra-tight Eastern Conference.

“He really goes for real,” Jazz baseman Donovan Mitchell said.

Warriors winger Draymond Green recently tweeted, “Lamelo is a threat!”

“Right now, with the way things look, for me he looks like the rookie of the year in the NBA,” said Mavericks leader Rick Carlisle. “He’s doing it statistically, his team is winning. He has energy, he has vibe, he has arrogance. If you like to see players play in style, he’s up there.”

Ball, who grew up watching the highlights of Penny Hardaway and Jamal Crawford, sees things on the court that most players don’t see.

Regularly deliver time passes behind the back leading to transitional tours, through open triples and air bridges from the pick-and-roll, many of which go to Miles Bridges, which earned the duo the nickname of “Airbnb”.

Ball’s impact with the Hornets was almost immediate, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in just his tenth NBA game. Still, 20 games passed before Hornets coach James Borrego inserted him into the starting eleven after an injury to Devonte Graham.

Ball is unlikely to give up soon.

The 19-year-old has only lifted his game in 15 openings, averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds and has already won the NBA of the month twice.

“Being me, I’m never going to say putting myself on the bench was a little smart or good,” Ball expressed. “I always feel like when I’m on the court I’m helping. … But I think one of the reasons is because we didn’t have a summer league, so he probably wanted to make it easier for me to get in.”

Borrego added: “His growth, his courage, his ability to recover even when things don’t go the way he wants at one end of the track … he’s a special young man.”

Prior to the NBA draw, there were concerns about the unorthodox form of Ball shooting with a lower pitch than most. He has shown that skeptics were wrong in finding ways to create their own shot while getting 37.8% from beyond the arc.

Ball said the coaches have tried to change his shooting form in almost every place he has been, but he has resisted firmly.

“I always said,‘ That’s how you shoot, ’” Ball argued. “I’m confident in that. I feel good letting go. Even coming here (at the Hornets), they discreetly tried to adjust it a bit, but I said, ‘No, that’s how it’s shot’ and just got stuck. with this “.

“I think people were wondering at first: was he a good enough shooter?” Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak questioned. “I don’t think that’s a concern.”

This ability to shoot has forced teams to defend Ball behind the bow, making it easier for him to penetrate and score or plate.

“Man, that’s good,” Mitchell admitted. “I’m not going to lie. I’m very impressed with his ability to make plays, his competitiveness, but his joy. … He has a lot of talent; he can do a lot of different things.”

Ball has indicated he wants to add some muscle to the frame and Jordan has added “we believe he will continue to work and improve as a player.”

Ball’s long-term goal in the NBA is simple, if not lofty: he wants to be a member of the Hall of Fame like Jordan. Nothing would please the six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls.

The Hornets haven’t been in the playoffs since 2016 and haven’t won a playoff series in 19 years.

They lacked the power of the stars.

Ball, with 5.7 million followers on Instagram, is attracting national attention. And their selfless, friendly approach to passes could make the Hornets an attractive destination for future free agents, making Charlotte more competitive.

Like most rookies, Ball needs to keep improving on the defensive side of the court for the Hornets to achieve consistent success.

“Our goal is to build a consistent winner and have free agents see our program, just like Gordon (Hayward) did this offseason,” Jordan noted. “It’s not just Melo. It’s our group of young and talented players, our coaching staff and our entire Hornets organization. All of these factors,