Charlotte Hornets: 3 Players fans should be excited to watch this pre-season
The Charlotte Hornets kick off their pre-season campaign on Oct. 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and there’s a lot of excitement about what this roster can do this season. Playoff expectations have been set by the players during media day and fans are following suit expecting a big year from the team.
Before we jump into the regular season, Charlotte has a lot to figure out during their four-game pre-season. The depth at the center position, who starts at the four, how good are the rookies, has LaMelo Ball made the next jump, are all storylines that everyone will be watching closely.
There are so many players on the roster that fans should be excited to see but there are three in particular who fans need to keep their eye on this pre-season as they will be the biggest needle movers for the Hornets this season.
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3 Players fans should be excited to watch this pre-season: LaMelo Ball
This is obvious but it still must be said. After a polarizing rookie campaign, Ball has Charlotte fans ecstatic about what the future can hold. As a rookie, Ball averaged 28.8 minutes per game and posted a stat line of 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. Good enough to earn him the Rookie of the Year award.
How Ball progresses into year two is one of the biggest storylines in the NBA. Can he make a Luka Doncic esque jump? Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting in just his second NBA season. While that might be wishful thinking for Hornets fans, it’s not out of the realm of possibility, and that alone is enough to keep your eyes glued to the television this pre-season.
Reports out of training camp are that Ball has added strength to his frame and can notice the differences from last season. Ball is already an exceptional playmaker and rebounder. While he only posted one triple-double stat line last season, he’s a threat to reach that feat on any given night.
Adding strength to his frame should allow him to finish at the rim better than he already was. Last season he was more of a streaky scorer. If he can turn the corner to make his scoring consistent then Charlotte will be looking at a certified All-Star caliber player and maybe even a potential MVP candidate.
How far Ball progresses this season is the answer to how good the Hornets can be and where they can finish in the Eastern Conference. For that reason, fans need to keep their eyes on Ball this pre-season. Although, you didn’t need me to tell you that. It was already the case.