Since being drafted third total in 2020, LaMelo Ball has emerged as probably the most thrilling younger guards within the NBA. Within the midst of one other All-Star season, one former participant in contrast the Hornets guard to a Corridor of Famer.
After lacking the vast majority of final season on account of harm, Ball is placing collectively his finest marketing campaign within the professionals. He’s at the moment fourth in scoring at 29.6 factors per recreation whereas averaging 5.5 rebounds and seven.5 assists.
Within the midst of his stellar play, LaMelo Ball is main all Jap Convention backcourt gamers in All-Star voting. Gilbert Arenas defended the voters on his podcast, stating that Ball deserves this a lot recognition. He additionally said that the Charlotte Hornets star is getting a lot consideration as a result of he attracts parallels to Allen Iverson.
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Following this daring take, former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants sounded off on Arenas.
“Allen Iverson was taking them to the playoffs,” McCants stated. “LaMelo wasn’t doing what Allen Iverson was doing.”
To this present day, Iverson remains to be considered as probably the most iconic guards in NBA historical past. Regardless of being undersized, he emerged as a celebrity for the Philadelphia 76ers. A former MVP, Iverson famously led the 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001.
As for McCants, he spent 4 years within the league after being drafted 14th total by the Timberwolves in 2005.
LaMelo Ball beating Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard in All-Star voting
Nonetheless a couple of month away from All-Star weekend, fan voting remains to be raging on. Within the newest outcomes, LaMelo Ball is thrashing out a pair of superstar-caliber gamers in voting.
The Hornets guard stays within the high spot for guards within the Jap Convention with 1.9 million votes. Barely behind him are Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell (1.5 million) and Damian Lillard (1.2 million).
When it comes to all gamers, LaMelo Ball is certainly one of 10 gamers with at the very least 1.9 million fan votes or extra. Others on this group embody Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James.
If Ball can stay within the high spot, he has probability of being a starter within the All-Star recreation this yr. Fan voting accounts for 50%, with media and gamers supplying the opposite 50%. Voting will proceed for one more week, with the starters formally being introduced on Contained in the NBA on January 23.
Ball is on tempo to get an All-Star nod for the second time in his younger profession. He was final named in 2022 in simply his second yr within the NBA.
Edited by Kevin McCormick