Kyle Kuzma bent his arm backwards like a quarterback who would hit a stiff point on the right path. His target was LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers star had a step on the Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball.
Not many defenders in any sport are going to stop James when he comes a step ahead with a steam going downhill. But Ball shot it and stuck his arm out behind him to try to slow James down while simultaneously turning and bouncing back on defense.
Ball created the quick opportunity by trying to shoot the ball past James – who raised his hand and tipped it to Kuzma. So it was Ball’s responsibility to stop it – even if it meant his fifth offense and the Hornets’ impressive return from the second half on Thursday night in a 116-105 defeat to the Lakers at Staples Center.
But the play spoke volumes about Ball’s mentality in his first NBA game against James. It was, as he mentioned earlier this week, just another match for the talented rookie. Just one more time we play against one of the league’s greatest players. Just another measure from which he will learn.
“It felt good,” Ball said of his first game against James, with whom his stats are favorable in the first 20 starts of his career. “But not too good, because we did not win.”
On Thursday, Ball’s 20th career started, and according to ESPN Statistics & Information, Ball averaged more points (19.8 to 16.5) than James scored during the first 20 starts of his career, and shot better off the field. (46.8% to 39.9%) and from outside the three-point line (43.2% to 31.5%).
Of course, this is not a perfect comparison. James started the first 20 games of the 2003 season in Cleveland, while Ball was only moved into the Hornets’ starting lineup in his 20th game this season – Thursday was his 40th career game. James also weighed in on the undisputed overall no. 1 was in his draft class, and that he was taken by his hometown team.
Ball entered the league as a mystery, after skipping his final year of high school and college to play two seasons overseas before the Hornets took him overall last weekend. 3 compiled.
But the youngest of the three Ball brothers probably lived just as much of his life in the spotlight as James entered the league. And he endured more doubt than James ever did when he stumbled and raced around in the family’s Facebook Live reality show as a teenager in the Lithuanian league.
The struggles and experiences, Ball’s father, LaVar Ball, once predicted, were what gave LaMelo the potential to be the best of his three sons.
“People ask me, ‘Who’s the best? “LaVar said in an interview with ESPN in 2017.” ‘I’m going, Lonzo is the best now. He is the oldest. But Melo is going to be the best because he has the most experience … he gets the most experience and the most s —. ‘”
The older Ball was noticeably quiet when his youngest son exploded on the NBA scene this year. Some of it is a function of geography – LaVar still lives in his home in Chino Hills, an hour east of Los Angeles, while Lonzo is in New Orleans and LaMelo in Charlotte. Another part is a dutiful decision to return from the media spotlight, where he often overshadowed Lonzo when he started with the Lakers.
But LaVar has not been completely silenced. He did a radio interview with ESPN Los Angeles before Thursday’s game in which LaMelo’s remark doubled that the game against James was not extra special.
“He does not look at it: ‘Oh, I’m playing this man!’ Said LaVar Ball in the show “Mason & Ireland”. “No, it’s competition. … How will he fear another man and your father is LaVar Ball? ‘
The boast elicited laughter from the hosts. Indeed, several of his statements went viral, as usual. But as was the case all season, LaMelo’s talent spoke for itself.
“He’s damn good at being his age,” James said of Ball after their game. “His speed, his speed, his ability to make shots and baskets in the paint … and he’s just going to get better. Every game is a learning experience for him. He’s going to get better as the season goes on and his career goes on. .
“He and ‘Zo are two very unique players in our league and it shows every night.”
James prevailed over Ball and the Hornets this evening and finished with a game-high 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting to propel the Lakers to their fourth consecutive victory and a new round of MVP proclamations from his coach and teammates.
But Ball equaled the lead for Rookie of the Year, scoring 20 of his 26 points in the second half, while Charlotte fell back from a 15-point halftime deficit to take a 86-85 lead on Ball’s 3-point with 10 minutes, 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
LeBron and LaMelo after first time time pic.twitter.com/wuZ9fMU6Db
– ESPN (@espn) 19 March 2021
“You can feel his excitement early on,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “He wanted to play well and prove he belongs in this league. … I think he was a little anxious at first, but he went to bed and slowed down. … I thought he was fantastic on the piece. I liked his struggle and his competitive spirit. ‘
His mistakes were aggressive mistakes, not because of any extra pressure corresponding to the four-time MVP. The obvious mistake, which gave James two free throws and the Lakers the ball in subsequent possession, showed Ball’s competitiveness to get back on defense after a turnover.
“It was just a stupid mistake I had to learn from,” Ball said of the turnover (his sixth of the night), which sent him to the bench for the next 5:27.
The Hornets even stayed with the Lakers during that time. But they did not have enough time left to set up a rally when Ball finally came back with 1:43 and the Lakers were up 112-101. Ball scored four points in the remaining time, but James and the Lakers closed it out fairly easily. After the match, Ball spoke briefly to the media and then returned to the team hotel.
Because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Ball’s first NBA game in his hometown was a lonely game. The Hornets stay in Los Angeles on Saturday to play the Clippers. In a normal year, he would be able to see hundreds of family members and friends, just like his older brother was during his time with the Lakers. But these are not normal times.
“Life is weird now,” Ball said with a shrug as he was asked about the non-homecoming homecoming. “Everything feels really normal, to be honest. So I do not really know what’s going on.”