Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball this season has played well in spurts, and the team usually finds success when he can contribute and log meaningful minutes.
The trick, though, is finding the right balance for playing time with him.
Prior to joining the Hornets, Ball hadn’t played in a competitive game since November 2019 with the Illawarra Hawks in the National Basketball League. He hasn’t shown signs of any conditioning issues, but Hornets head coach James Borrego wants to ensure Ball is earning his minutes with his play on the court.
The team has benched Ball a few times late in games due to turnovers and subpar defense, and Borrego is going to continue to ask that he improves in those areas. Charlotte wants Ball on the court as much as possible but the team is also going to be mindful of his workload.
“When he’s earning these minutes, he’s in the upper 20s,” Borrego said on Saturday. “In the games he’s played well, it feels like we’re playing well. He’s a major part of that, absolutely. The hope is that we do get him more minutes. It’s a long season, though, it’s 72 games. … It’s a new environment, it’s a new league. I love the Australian league, (but) this is a different league. My goal is to get him through 72 games, growing, developing. I’m going to push his minutes here and there. I’m going to change (that but) what I’m asking of him is very consistent: Defend, rebound, push the pace, play with great confidence. Those are the things he does.”
When locked in, Ball has proven to be a great playmaker for the Hornets. His play often results in the right decisions, but he can sometimes get careless with the ball and commit several turnovers. He plays with a fearlessness that has been entertaining and he continues to impress the team on a nightly basis with that ability.
The Hornets will need Ball to continue to make the right plays in order to have the chance to stay on the court. If he can play that way, good things happen and the Hornets will have additional opportunities to win games.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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