Who is LaMelo Ball?

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray have been named to the NBA All-Star Game as injury replacements for Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. This is the first All-Star selection for Ball, last year’s Rookie of the Year. The 20-year-old becomes the fourth-youngest All-Star in NBA history. He is averaging 19.6 points, 7.5 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 1.47 steals in 47 games for Charlotte.

Born on August 22, 2001, to LaVar Christopher Ball, an American businessman and former football player, LaMelo was brought up with a sports background.

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His brothers LiAngelo Ball and Lonzo Ball are both basketball players. Although Lonzo and LaMelo are both plying their trade in the NBA, LiAngelo is yet to make the jump. 

In the freshman season, LaMelo started playing basketball for Chino Hills High School in California.

Impressing since the start, LaMelo soon made his way up the ranks and in June 2019, signed a two-year contract, including NBA out clauses, with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian-based National Basketball League (NBL).

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After an impressive season and winning the Rookie of the Year in NBL, LaMelo prepared for the 2020 NBA draft. Through 12 NBL games, Ball averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.

In the 2020 NBA draft, the point guard was selected with the third overall pick by the Hornets.  

The 20-year-old secured the award for himself even though he only played 51 games in the 82-game season due to injuries.

Ball had a lead on all of his nominated competitors with his in-game stats ending up at an average of 15.7 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds in the 2020-2021 season, according to reports from CBS News.

Due to his impressive performance, he was made a starter for the Hornets and eventually pushed his team into the postseason, breaking a 4-year hold back.