Second-year point guard LaMelo Ball continued his ascension into rarified territory this season, a campaign highlighted by his first NBA All-Star Game appearance, numerous broken records and above all, nightly dazzling displays of all-around basketball brilliance.
Coming off winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, expectations were rightful high for Ball’s follow-up season and he certainly delivered and then some. He finished the year averaging 20.1 points on 42.9% shooting, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists – ninth in the NBA – and 1.6 steals in 75 total contests. He was one of just five players to average 20/6/7/1 and the third ever to do so in his age-20 season or younger, joining Luka Donu010diu0107 and LeBron James.