The criticisms about LaMelo Ball were so loud this summer that the Charlotte Hornets star probably heard them. He didn't say anything about the matter publicly, although the start of the regular season has seen him silence the doubters in a big way.
Each of Ball's first three games this season has shown how improved he has become.
In the Hornets' win over the Brooklyn Nets to open the regular season, he took a step back, as he and eight other teammates scored in double-digits. He didn't have to do much because they were able to blow out the Nets 136-117.
The following contest against the Philadelphia 76ers ended in a Charlotte loss, underscoring one of the team's most glaring problems: execution down the stretch. It surrendered a seven-point lead in the match's final 4:19, although half of that stretch saw Ball sitting on the bench due to foul trouble. It's worth noting that he finished with a +12 plus/minus despite the loss.
Against the Washington Wizards on Sunday, Ball again stood out as the Hornets used a record-breaking 88-point second half to rally for a 139-113 victory. He had one of the greatest games of his NBA career, registering his 11th triple-double with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. That was the highest-scoring triple-double in any game in the history of the franchise.
LaMelo Ball is the head of the snake in Charlotte
However, the 2022 All-Star's most valuable (arguably) contribution on Sunday was not seen on the box score. With the Hornets trailing at halftime, he apparently delivered a "fiery speech" to the squad, which helped them mount a comeback after being down 62-51 at halftime.
Miles Bridges also shared how his younger teammate gave him an "earful" for his lackluster first half. The veteran forward had just four points on 2-7 shooting in the first two quarters. He finished the contest with 22 points on 6-16 shooting and headed to the free-throw line 10 times after intermission.
In his postgame interview, Bridges was all praises for the unusually vocal Ball, stating, "He turned it up and everybody else turned up. We go as the head of the snake go. So, if he's leading like that, with that type of passion, people are going to listen to him."
Any doubts that Ball can lead the Hornets have been answered, as he has taken the right step in becoming a key figurehead for the club.
In addition, the point guard downplayed his triple-double when he was interviewed on the court following the win. Asked which of his stats stood out the most to him, he quickly pointed to Charlotte getting the win as the thing that mattered the most. Charles Lee caught wind of Ball's answer and declared his love for where his ward's "mentality is right now."
In the grand scheme of things, the Hornets' dub on Sunday will end up as just one tally in their wins column. However, it also proved that criticisms of Ball's supposed inability to be a winning, serious player are flawed. If you give him time, a well-built supporting cast, and the right system, he can no doubt tap into his superstar potential.
Only time will tell if Ball can sustain his terrific performance on the floor and continue showing his leadership qualities. Based on what we have seen from him and heard from his teammates, the chances of that happening are quite high.