LaMelo Ball proved his place in the East point guards hierarchy

Charlotte Hornets basketball is back, and many eyes were on LaMelo Ball's long-awaited return to the floor.

He hadn't played in an NBA game since late January. Still, Ball didn't appear to show any rust against the New York Knicks, finishing the evening with 18 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and four 3-pointers. The concerns about his health looked overblown, at least for one contest.

More impressively, he was able to keep up against one of the best point guards in the league, Jalen Brunson.

Ball embracing a tough defensive assignment is a delight to hear

It was certainly a riveting challenge for the 2022 All-Star as he faced off against arguably the top point guard in the Eastern Conference. The 2024 All-NBA Second-Team selection is the barometer that Ball should have his sights on.

The good news for fans is that in true Melo fashion, the Hornets star didn't back down from taking on the challenge of guarding Brunson. He could have left that coverage to Josh Green or another teammate, but coach Charles Lee said Ball didn't want to defer the assignment and even refused to switch off screens.

It appears the mandate from the 39-year-old tactician and the front office has been well-received. During Charlotte's media day and training camp, Lee and team executive Jeff Peterson preached defense, which hasn't been a part of the franchise's culture in the past years.

Ball has to be one of the first players to employ a defensive mindset, given that he is the primary floor general and is generally seen as the Hornets' leader. However, a writer had unfairly blasted his efforts on that end of the court. It may be premature, but the 23-year-old playmaker's commitment to taking on an opponent of Brunson's caliber should help silence naysayers.

Unfortunately for Charlotte, it lost its preseason opener 111-109 after Duane Washington Jr. missed three free throws with 2.1 seconds left on the game clock. Even so, it's not the wins the squad is after in the preseason, as it's more important for the Hornets to continue developing individually and as a group.

They showed plenty of reasons to be hopeful about the organization's outlook this season and beyond. However, it was Ball who perhaps inspired optimism the most among the Hornets players on Sunday. Not only did he display how well he has recovered from his injury so far, but the 2021 Rookie of the Year also proved that he has the confidence to keep up with the NBA's best point guards.