Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball this season has played well in spurts, and the team usually finds success when he can contribute and log meaningful minutes.
The trick, though, is finding the right balance for playing time with him.
Prior to joining the Hornets, Ball hadn’t played in a competitive game since November 2019 with the Illawarra Hawks in the National Basketball League. He hasn’t shown signs of any conditioning issues, but Hornets head coach James Borrego wants to ensure Ball is earning his minutes with his play on the court.
The team has benched Ball a few times late in games due to turnovers and subpar defense, and Borrego is going to continue to ask that he improves in those areas.