Pick No. 3 (CHA): LaMelo Ball, PG
Charlotte is fun to watch!!! That might truthfully be the first time I have ever said that. It’s true, though. They’re probably not going to make the playoffs but they are a threat for highlights every game. Gordon Hayward has a handful of NBA Jam games in the early going of this season. Terry Rozier has indeed been his scary former self in games as well. Miles Bridges has more dunk highlights in 20 games than 70 percent of the league had in its entirety last season. But the reason we are here is to discuss the rookie. He has his fair share, don’t you worry.
LaMelo ‘$%&#@%’ Ball. The dude is playing with the same demeanor he did in high school/overseas and doing just fine. I honestly am baffled watching him put finesse on every single basic pass he makes. God, it is so much fun. The obvious stat is that the other week he became the youngest player in NBA history to secure a triple-double. The triple-double has been watered down to almost double-double territory at this point, but it is still worth mentioning.
The thing about LaMelo Ball is his *gravity*. Despite shooting an ‘oof-inspiring’ 29 percent from 3, he cannot be left alone on defense. Nearly every time he conducts the pick-and-roll he draws two defenders and nearly every time it ends in an easy (yet still impressive-looking because Lamelo is throwing it) lob for a slam. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He’s seventh among rookies in terms of minutes per game and if CHA can reduce their logjam at guard by the end of the season, he’ll be doing even more.
Verdict: Happy drafters in Charlotte, if just the once. I truly have no handle on what LaMelo’s floor or ceiling as a player is right now, but I’d say he has the best chance out of anyone in this class to become a superstar, FWIW.