Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball is the real deal. The 19-year-old phenom notched history on Saturday, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. Ball achieved the remarkable feat in the Hornets' match against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center.
The 6-foot-8 playmaker tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in Charlotte's impressive 113-105 victory. He edged out previous record-holder Markelle Fultz of the Orlando Magic, who accomplished it back in 2018 at 19 years and 317 days.
LaMelo Ball waxed hot from the opening tip, as he shot an efficient 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from distance. But it was his overall game that truly shined, as he crashed the boards and set up his teammates with magnificent dishes like this one.
Ballin’ pic.twitter.com/ooGKEQsyvX
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 10, 2021
LaMelo Ball, who was picked third overall by the Hornets in the 2020 Draft, was actually close to breaking the record a day earlier. He finished one assist shy against his brother Lonzo Ball and the New Orleans Pelicans, notching 12 points, 10 rebounds, and nine dimes. He got the job done soon after and etched his name in the record books.
After struggling at the start of the season, the streaking Hornets now hold a three-game winning streak and improved to 4-5. It's no coincidence that the team is playing much better with Ball finally finding his groove. In nine games so far, Ball is averaging 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals. He is knocking down 40.6 percent of his field goals and 34.1 percent of his triples.
The sky is the limit for LaMelo Ball, and we could expect more triple-doubles from him in the near future.
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