“The main goal is always winning,” Ball said. The lead never reached larger than five points and when Ball knocked down a fadeaway elbow jumper to put the Hornets up 45-44 with 4:09 left in the second period, Charlotte never looked back. Unlike Friday, the Hornets did not fall behind by double digits in the first half despite another slow start. We love him here and he’s playing his butt off. He’s just coming in here and learning and asking a lot of questions and he wants to be the best version of himself. So, I don’t think this is anything new for him. He’s played against top competition his whole life. His +18 mark in total on the night also ranked best on the team. In the second half, Ball finished with a plus-minus of +6, best on the team, in 16 minutes. Most important to it all on the night was Ball’s contributions came in the flow of the offense and helped Charlotte move to.

He’s just a wonderful person to be around. I think the biggest surprise is just been the person. “A 19-year-old rookie does not look like this. “It’s like he’s been doing this for a number of years,” Borrego said. Washington on the roll after a ball screen and the forward converted his fadeaway jumper for Ball’s triple-double. After securing his rebound early in the period, Ball found P.J. His seven points in the final 4:30 of the quarter doubled his tally and made a triple-double a distinct possibility as he entered the final quarter needing just one rebound and one assist.īefore he could do either of those things, though, he buried a stepback three-pointer that put the hosts up double digits. Then, Ball showcased his rebounding, something he’s excelled at in recent games, by pulling down five rebounds over the final five minutes of the third. After nine points, seven assists and four rebounds in the first half, Ball checked in at the 7:20 mark of the second half and, within three in-game minutes, had his eighth and ninth assists. Probably when I look back on it after my career when I’m 40 or something then I’ll probably look back at everything.”Ĭharlotte controlled much of the game from the second quarter on but it was the third quarter for Ball where another triple-double became a possibility. But for me, like I said, I just go out there and play basketball. “I feel like their more proud of me, so good for my mom and pop.

“I feel like it’s a great accomplishment, but I feel like it lies on for my family,” Ball added of his triple-double. I love what he brings to our locker room, our organization. “He’s a special player and I love the person, I love the kid. It’s like he’s been doing this for a number of years already. “He just continuously gets better,” head coach James Borrego said. The 19-year-old Ball earned his triple-double and then some against the Hawks, tallying 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as Charlotte won its third game in four days and second against Atlanta in that span, 113-105. Ultimately, he finished one agonizing assist shy of history. LaMelo Ball knew during Friday’s game against the Pelicans that he was one assist away from his first career triple-double, one that would make him the youngest player in league history to accomplish that feat.

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