LiAngelo Ball was scooped up by the Charlotte Hornets' summer league squad to have a chance to earn a roster spot out in Las Vegas. Of course, he is the older brother of the reigning Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball. A roster spot might seem like a lock, just because of his ties to his talented brother. However, that is not going to be the case because he is going to go out there and earn it. Despite being labeled a thief after the incident in China back with UCLA, Gelo will come out hungry and prove he is ready to work every game.
LiAngelo made his summer league debut against the Portland Trail Blazers and put on a show in limited minutes. He finished the game with 16 points in 16 minutes and also shot five for eight from three-point range. We always heard that he was the best shooter of the three Ball brothers (Lonzo and LaMelo) and he showed that in his first taste of NBA action this summer. His shooting form looks like it was copied straight out of a how-to video. Both Lonzo and LaMelo have different, but effective, shooting forms. When both came into the league, there were a lot of concerns and plans to change their jumpers. There is no concern for LiAngelo's though and the Hornets are seeing that up close.
Outside of his impressive shooting, he showed that he is a willing passer. He made the right basketball play on most possessions and took smart shots throughout the game. It is a good sign because nobody really knew what to expect from someone we have not seen hoop publicly in quite some time. So naturally, the expectations for him to come out and play well might have been low. Except, his father is the infamous Lavar Ball, so maybe he has all the pressure on his shoulders.
Ultimately, LiAngelo will be on the Hornets' regular-season roster. It was only one game in the summer league, but he will build off of that performance and continue to get better. Let's be honest, we did not expect him to put up a point per minute, so now he has our attention. Not because he was in the stands watching his brothers court-side, but because the man is actually talented. The world counted LiAngelo out and forgot about him, but he is controlling his own fate and will make the best out of this opportunity he was given. Stay tuned into Hornets' summer league action! Soon, we will see LiAngelo sharing the court with LaMelo in the backcourt for the Hornets.
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