There was a time when a certain Baron Davis made the Hornets shine, and filled the Top 10 with his flights and inspirations from elsewhere. With the number 1 on his back and a unique style, the playmaker asserted himself from 1999 to 2005 before joining the Warriors for another adventure.
Twenty years later, it is LaMelo Ball who took over, with the same position, the same number and a fairly atypical profile which seems to please Baron Davis. And at only 22 years old, Lonzo Ball’s little brother still has extraordinary potential to progress.
“He has no ceiling”, declared a particularly enthusiastic Baron Davis to Hoopshype. “We don’t know what its limits are. He has that thing that only the greats have. He has personality, vision, quality, heart and he is efficient. He is very intelligent. He has an incredible emotional IQ. He’s almost 2m06 today (he is however only listed at 2m01). I recently stood next to him. When you see him, you think of someone for whom basketball is an art. Basketball is like a musical instrument for this kid.”
Making Hornets history
Having become an advisor in wealth management to help professional players better manage their money, Baron Davis also gave his little advice to encourage LaMelo Ball to take care of his body, which has already been put to the test in recent seasons.
“If I could have changed something about my career, I would not have played despite the injuries. At one point I was injured and never took the time to heal to be 100%. I think that’s what cut my career short. I did it partly for my mentality, but often it was not good for my health”he added. “When you’re young, you don’t realize it until you get older.”.
Time will tell if LaMelo Ball will in turn leave his mark on the Hornets, like his illustrious elder. As for his own place in history, during his career and in particular for the Charlotte franchise, Baron Davis does not claim a particular place, other than that of a player who will have marked his era .
“I’ll let the other players discuss it. My goal when arriving in the NBA was to enter the category of great players, and for them to respect my name and my game”he continued. “That’s the only thing I played for, the respect of my peers. I don’t know where I stand. I know what I believe in and the confidence I had in my game. In my opinion, I am an original, a unique case, like many guys of my time. Look at Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams and Chris Paul. These guys are unique.”
| LaMelo Ball | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 51 | 29 | 43.6 | 35.2 | 75.8 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 15.8 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 75 | 32 | 42.9 | 38.9 | 87.2 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 20.1 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 36 | 35 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 83.6 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 23.3 |
| Total | 162 | 32 | 42.6 | 37.7 | 82.8 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 19.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
