LaMelo Ball has finally become a starter for the Charlotte Hornets. Hornets coach James Borrego has had him coming off the bench for the first 20 games of the season.
Although many have criticized this decision, as Ball already looks like a future star, Borrego did utilize the second pick of the NBA draft well.
He's proven to be an asset coming off the bench and has grown in the Hornets team more and more as games went by. We've seen Ball form a great on the court relationship with Miles Bridges.
Borrego said: "Miles is one of those guys that's been the recipient of LaMelo's pace and his playmaking ability, and your right, I see a connection there.
"No matter if they're starting or they come off the bench together, whatever it is I think there is synergy there between the two."
Ball's rise to the starting line is largely thanks to injuries in the squad. Terry Rozier's injury saw Ball replace him in the lineup in the Hornets 121-115 overtime victory against the Miami Heat.
His next start would be in a 118-111 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Ball would finish on 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
He played a big part in the Hornets coming back from being down 22 at the half. Losing to a strong Sixers team whilst missing key players in PJ Washington and Rozier.
The most interesting line-up Borrego put together with Ball was against the Utah Jazz. There was still no Washington, but he started Devonte' Graham, Rozier, and Ball all together.
Rozier played small forward and Hornets star Gordon Hayward moved up the four spot. With Cody Zeller at the five of course. Unfortunately, Graham got injured and only played 10 minutes.
The Utah Jazz blew the Hornets out as they couldn't recover after the Jazz's dominant second quarter. Ball, however, did get his career-high with 34 points and also 8 assists to go with that.
PJ Washington would return to the lineup for the next three games. Ball continues to look good. Against the Washington Wizards, he would finish with 19 points and 7 rebounds in a Hornets win.
Then in one of his best games of the season, he would finish with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. Hornets blew out the Houston Rockets and Ball made seven 3-pointers, equalling the franchise record for most threes in a game by a rookie.
He also became the youngest player in NBA history to hit that many threes in a game. This game was one of his most remarkable ones because a big concern of his game was how well he shoots beyond the arc.
So far he's been shooting with extreme confidence, pulling up off the dribble and from deep. It looks like his shot will continue to improve over time.
Ball also finished with 17 points and 5 assists in the Hornets' loss against the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be interesting to see how the Ball does as a starter when Graham returns to the line-up.
The 19-year-old looks like a future star already and his game will only continue to grow. As his shot becomes better, and he starts to be more aggressive getting to the rim Ball will be key to the Hornets' future.
He's only averaging 2.6 free throws a game, he will need to get to the line more in games.
He continues to lead the race for the Rookie of the Year award.