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Even if there was a sense of inevitably to Wednesday’s announcement of LaMelo Ball as Rookie of the Year, it couldn’t take away from the moment itself. A video posted to the Hornets’ Twitter showed Ball’s genuine reaction to being surprised with the award by teammate Miles Bridges and offered a look at what the award meant to Ball, a player who is typically reserved in front of cameras.
“It definitely feels great,” he said on Wednesday evening. “I mean, it’s for sure a blessing for real. I really didn’t know (that I had won). Like I always thought (I would), but I didn’t really know until today when I found out.”
Few expected Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards to take home the award over Ball, including Minnesota’s own Twitter account which had multiple reactionary tweets ready to fire from the hip as the announcement of Ball became official.
In reality, though, the only argument against Ball was a lack of games after being sidelined for five weeks with a broken bone in his wrist. But after initial fears that his season may be over, Ball returned to the court for the final two-and-a-half weeks of the season to effectively seal his candidacy for the award.
“I felt like me coming back would just help that much more,” Ball said with regards to winning Rookie of the Year. “But at the end of the day, I just don’t like missing games and also want to help my team win. When I was able to feel like I was playing basketball again. I just came back.”
Despite missing 21 games, he still led all rookies in assists, finished third in total points and steals and was fifth in minutes per game as he helped the Hornets make the play-in game, something neither Edwards nor third-place finisher Tyrese Haliburton of Sacramento could accomplish.
“I feel like if you’ve seen somebody for 51 games, you kind of know what you’re getting at the end of the day,” Ball said.
Ball became the third player in franchise history to win the award, joining Larry Johnson in 1991-92 and Emeka Okafor in 2004-05. As much as the award was a celebration of Ball’s season, it was also a celebration of a Hornets coaching staff and franchise.
“Everybody here feels like family,” Ball said. “I love everybody. Just coming around and being around here every day is just a blessing.”
Even during the celebrations, though, Ball already had an eye on next season while looking to use the award not as an endpoint of a goal, but as a launching point to another.
“I definitely, next season, want to just come in with this little boost and I’m pretty much looking forward to next season right now,” he said. “That’s what we’re all working out for. That’s what everybody’s up here for. Just trying to get better every day.”
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