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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year, topping finalists Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings to win the award.
Ball briefly played in Lithuania and Australia before being taken third overall in the 2020 draft by the Hornets. He averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game for Charlotte this season, shooting 35.2% from 3-point range.
Despite missing 21 games with a fractured wrist, the 19-year-old Ball led all rookies in assists and steals and made an immediate impact with the Hornets, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in just his 10th career game on Jan. 9 against the Atlanta Hawks.
During February, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 13 games, joining LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the only teenagers to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in at least 10 games over a calendar month.
Edwards initially struggled out of the gate after being taken first overall by the Timberwolves out of Georgia. But as the season wore on, Edwards averaged 23.8 points per game after the All-Star break.
Haliburton fell to 12th in the draft, where the Iowa State guard was drafted by the Kings. He averaged 13.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting over 40% from 3-point range.
Ball briefly played in Lithuania and Australia before being taken third overall in the 2020 draft by the Hornets. He averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game for Charlotte this season, shooting 35.2% from 3-point range.
Despite missing 21 games with a fractured wrist, the 19-year-old Ball led all rookies in assists and steals and made an immediate impact with the Hornets, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in just his 10th career game on Jan. 9 against the Atlanta Hawks.
During February, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 13 games, joining LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the only teenagers to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in at least 10 games over a calendar month.
Edwards initially struggled out of the gate after being taken first overall by the Timberwolves out of Georgia. But as the season wore on, Edwards averaged 23.8 points per game after the All-Star break.
Haliburton fell to 12th in the draft, where the Iowa State guard was drafted by the Kings. He averaged 13.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting over 40% from 3-point range.