Jerry Donatien Articles - Page 13

The Charlotte Hornets knew coming into the NBA Draft that they need to add a score-first player to pair with LaMelo Ball. Well, they completed their mission after selecting James Bouknight with the 11th overall pick. The former Connecticut scoring machine was a flat-out star in college, averaging just under 19 points a game. He […]

The Charlotte Hornets did not end their season the way they anticipated with an ugly loss to the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament, but it was a special one regardless. The Hornets were fun to watch and have a bright future ahead of them thanks to the dynamite play of Rookie of the Year […]

LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets were sent home early on the first day of the NBA play-in tournament with a loss to the Indiana Pacers 144-117. The Hornets did not look themselves and just failed to put the ball in the hole. Come to think of it, they have failed to find a rhythm […]

The bad news: The Charlotte Hornets and LaMelo Ball have to win two postseason games to reach the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, instead of one. The good news: They still get a taste of genuine playoff pressure, a catalyst for future development. Taking the bad with the good is a clear focus […]

The Charlotte Hornets were defeated by the LA Clippers 113-90 on Thursday, but Lamelo Ball seems to be finding his footing. He finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists against a good defensive team. This was one of his more efficient games since returning from a fractured wrist that sidelined him for a […]

The addition of the NBA’s play-in tournament has a few teams at the bottom of each conference entering playoff mode a little earlier than what some would like. LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets are still in the hunt for the final two seeds of the Eastern Conference and are currently 33-36 at the eighth […]

The Nuggets defeated the Hornets 117-112 in a must-win game for Charlotte.It was not a close contest to start the game, falling by double-digits early in the first quarter. It didn’t help that LaMelo Ball was struggling with his shot all game. The Hornets rookie finished with just five points on a horrendous one for […]

The Charlotte Hornets have been fighting for their playoff lives for a month in a half. Currently, in the eighth spot, the Hornets seem to be a lock to compete in the play-in tournament and their first matchup would be against the Boston Celtics for a chance to secure the seventh seed. Despite a season-ending […]

LaMelo Ball returned to the starting lineup from a fractured wrist on May 1st in a matchup against the Detroit Pistons and did not seem to miss a beat. He finished the game with 11 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Sure, there might be a little rust there, but Ball has mentioned that he […]

Every game that Terry Rozier and the Charlotte Hornets play during this final stretch run is the biggest game of the year. Mainly because of the new play-in tournament rules that have been implanted for the last few teams in the postseason picture. Unfortunately, the Hornets have dropped their last two games, including one against […]

Miles Bridges is one of the best in-game dunkers in the NBA today. Throughout the stint of his three-year career, he has shown on a nightly basis that he will not hesitate to rise up and put someone on a poster. Especially this season because he has put quite a few opposing players on posters […]

There have been plenty of mixed feelings on the postseason play-in tournament since it was made official before the start of the 2020-2021 season. NBA stars like Luka Doncic and Draymond Green have voiced their frustration, with Mark Cuban also expressing some issues with it, at least when it comes to this season. However, Stephen […]

The Charlotte Hornets have been sliding down the Eastern Conference standings since LaMelo Ball fractured his wrist a little over a month ago. Before the injury, the Hornets were the No. 5 seed with the potential to move up to the No. 4 seed. Now, the Hornets find themselves slotted at the eighth spot and […]

With the playoffs approaching in less than a month, LaMelo Ball’s return could not have come at a better time. The Hornets are fighting for playoff positioning out east and are currently the eighth seed. Due to the new play-in tournament, they would play the Miami Heat for a chance to secure the seventh seed […]

LaMelo Ball has been cleared by the Charlotte Hornets to resume basketball activities and is set to return in a little over a week after missing the last month due to a wrist fracture. Getting him back in the lineup will provide a much-needed boost for them as well because they have lost their last […]

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan will speak at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on behalf of Kobe Bryant in May. It is only right that Jordan was bestowed this honor. The two of them shared a special bond and had a big brother-little brother relationship throughout the past two decades. Speaking on the behalf […]

The GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James will likely never have a definitive answer because it is based on one’s opinion. However, Jordan seems to be creating some separation, even though he has not even had to step foot back onto an NBA floor. Jordan has done his damage from behind the desk […]

The Charlotte Hornets took down the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-102 without the LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Malik Monk in the rotation. A lot of the team’s playmaking and scoring comes from those three, but the Hornets were able to capture their 26th win of the season and had seven guys score in double figures. […]

The Charlotte Hornets are certainly one of the biggest surprises of the season so far. Drafting LaMelo Ball and signing an All-Star in Gordon Hayward in the offseason, has been the driving force behind this season’s improvement. They are currently sixth in the East and are 25-24, which is a lot better than last season’s […]

The Charlotte Hornets gutted out a win in San Antonio against the Spurs, 100-97, without the help of their rookie phenom LaMelo Ball. With Ball out for the season due to a fractured wrist, the pace of the Hornets slowed down tonight, running a lot more of their offense out of the half-court instead of […]

LaMelo Ball was diagnosed with a fractured wrist after undergoing an MRI in San Antonio, costing him the season in which he is expected to win Rookie of the Year. However, individual accolades aside, his injury led to several questions about the season of the Charlotte Hornets. Melo hurt his right wrist it in their […]

LaMelo Ball returned home to Los Angeles for the first time as an NBA star on Thursday night for his matchup against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. As expected, the Charlotte Hornets guard did not disappoint, finishing with 26 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. However, LeBron James put up a game-high 37 points […]

The Charlotte Hornets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers is normally just another game on the schedule for both teams, but this upcoming matchup has a little more meaning to it. It will be LaMelo Ball’s first matchup against LeBron James in his career. For most young players, playing against LeBron is the highlight of their […]

The Hornets seem to be way ahead of schedule, especially in terms of their current seeding in the Eastern Conference. They are 20-18 and are sitting at the fifth seed, but they can not get too comfortable because one loss can plummet them down to the eighth spot. However, if they can tighten up their […]

LaMelo Ball has been nothing short of spectacular in his young career for the Charlotte Hornets. He is still in his first season in the NBA, but has the innate ability to get his teammates involved and find his own shot. Ball is already one of the best playmakers in the league and is a […]

The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Detroit Pistons 105-102 in Spectrum Center in front of team owner, Michael Jordan, 500 healthcare workers, and 3,000 fans. This was their first time allowing fans to attend a home game this season and they came away with a win in a tightly contested game. With Jordan in attendance, Terry […]

With another All-Star Game in the books, it’s time to shift attention to the second half of the NBA season and the March 25 trade deadline. The Charlotte Hornets should attempt to be as active as possible before the deadline given their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Adding some size or another wing […]

LaMelo Ball has jumped out of the gate and is the early favorite for Rookie of the Year after being selected third overall. Kemba Walker was selected by the Charlotte Hornets (Bobcats back then) number nine overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. Walker devoted 8 years to the franchise and he was a three-time All-Star […]

The Charlotte Hornets exceeded the expectations of many in the first half of the 2020-21 season. From LaMelo Ball seemingly running away with Rookie of the Year to Terry Rozier’s sudden scoring explosions, there is a lot the average NBA fan might not have seen coming. Through 35 games, the Hornets are 17-18, good enough […]

It is safe to say that Terry Rozier and the Charlotte Hornets are ready for their week-long vacation heading into the All-Star break after they smashed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 135-102. Everything that could have went well for the Hornets seemed to fall into place. Gordon Hayward was made available after missing two straight games on […]

LaMelo Ball shared the floor with the original “Melo” in Carmelo Anthony and the two had a showdown that is sure to be remembered by NBA fans all around the league. Ball put up a 30 piece, with eight assists and six rebounds, but Anthony finished with 29 points and the win as the Portland […]

The month of March could not have started better for P.J. Washington and the Charlotte Hornets. Washington put up 42 points on 15-of-23 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from deep to beat the Sacramento Kings, 127-126. “I felt like I got it going early around the paint and then my three-point shot felt good,” […]

Back in the summer of 2019, the Charlotte Hornets were part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics that swapped Kemba Walker for long-time backup point guard Terry Rozier. It felt like a lopsided deal at the time, but it seems like Michael Jordan and his staff was one step ahead of everyone. So […]

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been nothing short of fantastic since entering the league. The third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft already seems like a lock to take home the Rookie of the Year award. Ball is averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His scoring is […]

Terry Rozier put on a show on Friday, as the Charlotte Hornets took down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 120-114, at Spectrum Center. Rozier had 41 points on 13-of-20 shooting–including 6-of-10 from deep. The huge performance came on the heels of a 34-point game he put up against the Memphis Grizzlies last Wednesday, a contest that ended […]

LaMelo Ball continues to improve on a nightly basis for the Charlotte Hornets. This is becoming apparent in so many ways, one such example being a recent game this past Friday against the Utah Jazz. LaMelo Ball finished with a career high 34 points on 14-27 shooting. Sure, he took a lot of shots, but […]

NBA basketball in the 2000s has its share of detractors because of the style of play, but it deserves appreciation because there was still greatness every single night. The studs who played within the era speak for themselves, from Kobe Bryant to Kevin Garnett to Tim Duncan to LeBron James to a host of others […]

CHARLOTTE- Kemba Walker may be a member of the Boston Celtics, but his moments in the purple and teal are unforgettable. Walker created a mystique that buzz city needed ever since players like Alonzo Morning, Larry Johnson, Dell Curry, and a few others left. Those three guys put the city of Charlotte on the map […]

CHARLOTTE- The Spurs came into town looking to capture a must win to stay relevant in their Western Conference playoff hunt. They managed to do that without their Hall of Fame coach in Gregg Popovich. His former go to option on the court, Tim Duncan, filled his shoes as the acting head coach for the […]