As a top-three pick, LaMelo Ball came into the league with an expectation of contributing from Day 1. But from the first day on the court in training camp, Ball’s impact on the Hornets on and off the court changed the trajectory of the franchise.
In tangible value, he was a big part of the team making the play-in game and, at one point, sitting in the top half of the Eastern Conference. He transformed the Hornets’ style of play, helping them finish 10th in the league in fast-break points per game while playing at a Rookie of the Year level.