It was only a matter of time until LaMelo Ball scored 50. The fact that he did it against a team featuring two NBA 75 members, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, made it all the more impressive.
Of course, it would have been better had the Charlotte Hornets gone home with the win. However, the Milwaukee Bucks just had more weapons, and the Hornets could only rely on Ball and Brandon Miller as their source of offense.
The Hornets duo combined for 82 points, but only Josh Green was able to breach the 10-point mark.
LaMelo Ball is going to San Francisco for the All-Star Weekend
A silver lining for Charlotte's fans is that Ball has continued to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the league. Aside from his 50-piece performance, he dished out 10 assists, making him the third-youngest player to reach those numbers behind Kevin Porter Jr. and LeBron James. The 2021 Rookie of the Year beat Trae Young by almost two weeks.
It's also worth noting that Ball looked like he was on his way to a forgettable evening after recording just 10 points on 3-10 shooting in the first half. After a 22-point third quarter, the 23-year-old point guard poured in 18 points in the final period to get back on track to shattering the NBA record in average scoring in the fourth quarter.
Evidently, Ball has become one of the most unstoppable offensive forces in the league this season. He should be a no-brainer to obtain the needed votes from the coaches to secure a second of what is expected to be many All-Star appearances. Even a starting stint in the midseason showcase is on the table.
The only real hindrance to his likely trip to San Francisco for the 2025 All-Star Weekend is injury. So, hopefully, the health issues that have plagued Ball during the previous two seasons are a thing of the past.
The Hornets' low seed shouldn't be an obstacle, as the All-Star voting panel typically doesn't take it against the candidates if their teams aren't doing well in the standings. Besides, who's to say that Charlotte wouldn't pick it up in the coming months? Keep in mind that the squad has had to manage playing without its starting center and power forward for a significant period.
Perhaps the only question now is if Ball would be Charlotte's lone representative in the All-Star Game. For a while, it looked like Miller would need an unconventional and yet-to-be-approved path to participate in the exhibition contest.
However, if he is able to keep up his current production (33.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in his previous three matches), the sophomore swingman could join his Hornets teammate on the East All-Star squad.