LaMelo Ball is an NBA starter. Not an emergency starter, not a fill-in starter.
A starter on merit.
It’s hard to argue otherwise after what rookie Ball did Friday for the Charlotte Hornets. He scored a career-high 34 points and added eight assists in a 138-121 loss to the Utah Jazz. Just as importantly, Ball committed no turnovers in 39 minutes.
Had Ball not played as he did in the second half (22 points and five assists), the Hornets would have lost by 30 or more. Charlotte was short of two starters and Utah has the best record in the NBA at 18-5.