Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was very impressed with what he saw from LaMelo Ball on Saturday.
Ball, 19, became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his squad’s 113-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. He ultimately finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, while shooting 9-of-13 from the field in 31 minutes off the bench.
After the game, James took to Instagram to express his appreciation for Ball’s quick development.
After the game, Ball noted that he wasn’t especially surprised by his early success.
“I live my life and I know what I’m capable of, so stuff like this doesn’t move me like that,” he said, per ESPN. “I know that’s supposed to happen.”
Interestingly enough, there was a lot of trepidation regarding Ball’s pro prospects heading into the NBA draft. He has quickly dispelled any and all doubt regarding his abilities with the way he has played thus far.
Charlotte currently finds itself in the midst of a three-game winning streak, due in no small part to Ball’s efforts. He is currently averaging 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, while also knocking down 40.6 percent of his field goals and 34.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
If Ball continues to play the way he has up to this point, the Hornets could turn into a sneaky perennial playoff contender a lot faster than anyone predicted.
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