Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year for his impressive first season spanning the globe to launch his professional career.
The ball topped Minnesota Timberwolves finalist Anthony Edwards and Sacramento Kings to Tyrese Halliburton to win the award, which was determined by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters covering the league. The NBA announced the results on Wednesday night.
The ball was played briefly in Lithuania and Australia, before being ranked third by the Hornets in the 2020 draft, with his potential as an NBA player still a mystery.
However, any doubts proved to be unfounded, as Ball averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game for Charlotte this season, shooting 35.2% from 3-point range and immediately winning a one-way basketball. contributed to. Tax.
Despite missing 21 games with a fractured wrist, the 19-year-old Ball led all rookies in assists and steals and made an immediate impact with the Hornets, the youngest in NBA history to record a triple-double with 22 points. player, made 129 rebounds and 11 assists in his 10th career game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 29.
Halliburton dropped to 12th place in the draft, where the Iowa state product was happily scooped up by the Kings. He quickly proved that letting him fall so far was a mistake, averaging 13.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting over 40% from 3-point range and d'in the backcourt of Sacramento. Aaron settled in well with Fox as a long-term fit.
Edwards, on the other hand, struggled out of the gate initially after being taken first overall by the Timberwolves outside Georgia. But as the season progressed, Edwards — who has a penchant for colorful quotes — made significant strides, averaging 23.8 points per game after the All-Star break and seeing his shooting percentage skyrocket across the board.
Ball's stellar court vision was on display early with some highlight reel alley-op passes to Miles Bridge, and it only took 20 games before he was put in the starting lineup for good. From there, he established himself as a flagship piece that owner Michael Jordan could create in Charlotte.
"I think Melo is better at playing NBA games than I thought he would at the start of his career," Jordan said in March. "He has exceeded our expectations."
During February, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 13 games, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic having at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in at least 10 game overs. Joined as the only teenager to do so. a calendar month."
Rookie of the Year, and well deserved," tweeted Hornets teammate Gordon Hayward. "Many congratulations (on) MELOD1P! Can't wait to get on the court with you again. just the beginning!"
It is the last of six major individual awards given by the NBA this off-season. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named MVP; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was named Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Jordan Clarkson claimed the sixth Man of the Year honor; and Knicks forward Julius Randall was named Most Improved Player, while Tom Thibodeau won his second Coach of the Year award in his first season in New York.
The league has also announced its All-Defensive and All-NBA teams, with only the All-Rookie teams yet to be unveiled.
Like last year, the NBA has rolled out awards during the playoffs, instead of having an awards show at the end of the post season, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ball is the third player in Charlotte's history to win the Rookie of the Year honor, along with Emeka Okafor and Larry Johnson.