LaMelo Ball named its best NBA game on Saturday, scoring a career-high 27 points, along with nine assists, five rebounds and four steals to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 126-114 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee Bucks. The numbers are one thing – Ball proved early in his career that he is capable of setting up a triple doubling on a given night – but the way Ball dominates the paint in the clutch also shows a tantalizing ceiling as a goal scorer. to his playing ability.
Ball was aggressive from the start, but in a different way than we are used to. Normally, Ball uses his otherworldly vision and pace to get others involved, working them more as a passer and a sharpshooter in the halfway point. On Saturday, however, Ball made it his mission to get to the edge, showing the ability to complete and make mistakes. He reached 6-for-7 from 2-point and kicked off all of his nine attempts at free throw. Instead of opting for a controversial three-pointer, for example, if he has a mismatch against Brook Lopez, he takes the slow foot to the edge and ends up with a nice left-handed finger roll.
More importantly, Ball kept the same energy and game plan in the clutch as he constantly attacked the Bucks defense, just as it looked like Milwaukee was starting to pull away. Ball re-entered the game with his team trailing 111-110 halfway through the fourth quarter, fueling a 16-3 run to close out the game. Ball scored seven of the 16 points, including five free throws, and picked up two key steals in the piece. He even took out some James Harden cookies by sticking out his arms to draw a flaw in the paint.
Ball also made a crucial lineup to give the Hornets the momentum they needed to complete the game. We saw Ball’s finesse around the edge, but it was especially encouraging because he went up strong and made contact through Khris Middleton.
According to Synergy Sports Technology, Ball averages just one point per possession around the basket, which according to Synergy Sports Technology is in the 25th percentile. If he can maintain the aggression against the Bucks, it will only open lanes for his game-changing passing. Case in point: After the one-on-one Ball uses quick hands to pick up a steal, pulls two defenders into the lane and finds Devonte ‘Graham for a wide open dagger 3-pointer.
Just 19 years old with a slight 180 pound frame, no one expects Ball to plow to the edge every time. But the attacking mindset – getting in the lane to score, not just passing – can be instrumental to Ball’s ultimate success. It’s just one game, but if LaMelo can consistently get on the field and finish around the edge, his potential as an NBA point guard will go through the roof.