Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball’s unorthodox path to the NBA only makes sense for a player of his one-of-a-kind upbringing and style of play. After playing high-school basketball as a 14-year-old and being banned from playing at the NCAA level, he joined the Lithuanian team BC Vytautas to continue his career.
Around this point, the stock for Ball began to drop. Charlotte’s floor general barely played and was described as a lazy, undisciplined player. His chances at the NBA looked grim as he toiled away overseas and in the Junior Basketball Association, which was established by his father.