LaMelo Ball’s cold-blooded career night spoiled by game winner Giannis Antetokounmpo as Bucks next to Hornets

It must be horrifying for other NBA teams Charlotte Hornets protection point LaMelo Ball got this well, this thing quickly. As he is drafted with the third overall pick in 2020, his light frame and unorthodox playing style is expected to create a learning curve that will eventually pay off. without necessarily producing immediate results.

You can throw all that out the window. LaMelo is a star. End the discussion.

Ball announced his presence with authority on Wednesday night, going head to head with arguably the tournament’s best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in a duel that both will soon forget. At home to the defending champions, Ball has scored a career-high 36 points, including 8 3-pointers (also the highest in his career), while also collecting 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals for the game. He also takes down a cold-blooded, contentious 3-man to tie things up in less than six seconds.

This playstyle shows not only Ball’s improved 3-pointer ability (up to 39% from 35% last season) and his willingness to take big shots – it also shows his intelligence. that. Following three with less than 10 seconds left, Ball knew that Shove will look foul if he hangs on the ball for too long. So he started his shooting motion almost immediately, before Pat Connaughton maybe even think about fouling him, and burying the clutch, contesting 3 pointers.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, the Bucks still have time on the clock for Mr. Antetokounmpo to work his magic. The defending MVP Finals champion drove across the lane, flexed his body and performed a tough reverse with just two seconds left to give the Bucks a 127-125 win.

Antetokounmpo finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, outperforming Ball, but showed the utmost respect for the sophomore star by seeking him out after the game for a shirt swap. .

It’s one thing for young players to put numbers on a bad team, but Ball has proven that his production means victory. Based on NBA.com, the Hornets’ net rating is 8.3 points better than 100 in possession with Ball on the field, and Charlotte is currently on the bench after hitting postseason in Ball’s five rookies. Matches like Wednesday night prove that Ball is ready to be discussed as a franchise player right now, despite being only 20 years old in the early stages of his career.