For many NBA youngsters, facing off against Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a key item on their career bucket list. But if you ask Charlotte Hornets wunderkind LaMelo Ball, he feels a little “different” about it.
The rookie was recently asked about his excitement for the Hornets' upcoming matchup with James, marking their first clash of his young career. His answer was a bit surprising for normal standards, but very on the nose from the youngest Ball brother:
“I mean, nah,” Ball, 19, told reporters on a videoconference call Tuesday ahead of the Charlotte Hornets' game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. “I grew up a little different. Not really on basketball like that. So, not really.” (via ESPN's Dave McMenamin)
Unlike most young kids who had posters of LeBron, Allen Iverson, or Kobe Bryant, Ball admitted his childhood idol was a lot closer to home.
“It was my Pops,” Ball said when asked if he had a role model the way his brother looked up to James. “So, I was big on family and stuff like that. Not really with the basketball.”
The Hornets rookie has shown his uniqueness on the court as well. LaMelo Ball leads all rookies in per game averages for points (15.7), rebounds (6.0), assists (6.4), and steals (1.6) through 38 games played. He garnered the highest total for all four categories heading into the All-Star break, something that's never been done in 60 seasons, not even by LeBron James.
But while Ball has been stellar thus far, the fact that he's around the same age bracket as Bronny should tell you something about LeBron's impressive longevity. Their upcoming battle features the old guard intersecting with the new, with a whole lot of highlights sprinkled in for your viewing pleasure. The Hornets face off against the Lakers on Thursday night.
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