The reason LaMelo Ball should win Rookie of the Year in a landslide isn’t about points or assists or rebounds.
It’s about winning. He impacts that so much that it’s changed perception of the Charlotte Hornets.
That’s rare even among the NBA’s top rookies. Many first-season players post gaudy numbers. A few contribute positively to their teams’ fortunes. Very few become the driver of their teams’ success almost instantly.
Ball has, and Tuesday’s 102-99 road victory over the Detroit Pistons illustrated that dramatically.
The Hornets were absurdly shorthanded entering this game.