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Big 3's have dominated the NBA for the past decade or so. From Boston in 2008, to the Miami teams with LeBron James and company. There are also the ones that formed from just making good draft selections, like the Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Now, it seems like they're making a comeback. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets (if Kyrie Irving comes back) dominate that topic, but there are few underrated ones. Like the one within the Charlotte Hornets organization that is slowly emerging out of nowhere.
The Veteran
The Hornets have amassed enough talent from the draft that things are finely starting to come together. LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Gordon Hayward have this team looking like a real threat this season. Hayward wasn't drafted to the organization like Ball and Bridges, but he is a steady presence on and off the floor for this team. Not to mention he was an All-Star at one point in his career and a three-level scorer. Even after the gruesome leg injury he suffered a few years back, it looks like he is finding his groove again. His veteran presence and leadership seem like something that keeps this team steady.
Future MIP?
Bridges has been the focal point of the Hornets offense since the season started. They don't call plays for him all the time, but he has a good feel for the game and converts around the rim with ease. His game has came a long way. It is easy to tell that he worked hard in the offseason. His name is at the top of the list for the Most Improved Player Award already. He is averaging 24.1 points per game on the season and is leading the team in scoring. He has also had four 30 point games already and he shows no signs of slowing down. At this pace, Miles Bridges could see his name in the All-Star Game if he continues to kill the competition.
Despite the dramatic spike in his offense, Bridges is a defender first. It's what got him playing time from day one when he was drafted. On most nights, he will be guarding the team's best perimeter player. From Kevin Durant to Steph Curry, he'll take on the challenge of slowing them down. Bridges' impact seems to be the biggest on his team at this point in the season. If he continues to be this productive two-way player that we've seen so far, the Hornets will be tough to beat.
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Franchise Player
LaMelo Ball completes the Hornets' Big 3. The reigning Rookie of the Year came into the NBA with some lofty expectations because his father was hyping him up since he was 14, as he should be by the way. LaMelo lived up to all the hype so far. He makes everyone on his team better. Ball has the innate ability to make home-run kind of plays often. From full-court dimes to finding a teammate cutting to the basket, his vision is already elite. He can score it himself if need be too.
The Hornets know his value already and that his game still has plenty of room to grow. More on the defensive side of the ball than the other. The Hornets will have to be an elite defensive team to make deep runs into the postseason. His progress is being watched closely by the whole world.
All three guys have led the charge for the Hornets this season. A large chunk of the credit has to go to them for having this team over .500. They do have a lot of other pieces that are interesting and are ready to produce right away. One of those pieces is Terry Rozier, who missed a lot of games already due to an ankle injury. He has had a couple of bad shooting nights, but mainly because he just looks out of rhythm. It'll take some time for him to find his footing. Last year he was the team's best player and leading scorer. They'll need him to find his offense as the season wanes to get to the playoffs.
Speaking of which, the Hornets haven't been in the postseason since 2016. They are itching to get back there and they finally look like they have the right pieces to make it back. Led by their new Big 3, they should be able to break that playoff drought. Maybe even make some noise when they get there. Big threes are back and the Hornets will not be left behind with theirs.
