MEDIA DAY 2025 – LaMelo Ball Media Availability

Uh LaMelo Charles was in here a little bit ago and said one of the things he was uh he’s really impressed about your increased attention in the weight room this summer. Uh how much of last season and getting more exposure to u you know those double teams traps things like that motivated you to take the extra steps to get a little bit stronger and bigger this summer? Yeah, I mean uh with Cely we watched film, went over it even with uh Lamar and everything. So we just seen the little kinks and stuff and knew I had to get in the weight room and get stronger and stuff. So that’s pretty much what we did. Both Jeff and Charles mentioned that they had a lot of talks with you during the summer. What can you share about the substance of those and what they expect out of you? Uh pretty much just just being there, you know, for the team, being a leader, you know, getting us over the hump and everything and just being someone we can rely on and count on. I know that you they also said that you transformed your body a lot. Where do you feel like you’re stronger and more effective? Just all around pretty much as a whole. They have me doing upper and lower. So, everything. And and lastly for me, you know, people are kind of thinking that this is not a put up or shut up season, but like people feel like this is kind of like you your season you have to take that step. How much of that internal pressure do you feel? But I know you also put a lot of pressure on yourself just inherently. Uh, I don’t really have no pressure. Like I said, I just go in, you know, play and try to get as much wins as we can and do as best as we could. Colin Ston, what’s it been like having him around so far for you? And coach mentioned uh to us that you guys have built a I guess a rapport so far. Like you and Colin, you guys cool? What’s it like so far having a young boy? I love him already. I mean, you can just tell he want to win. I mean, he’s one of those players who just that grit, that dog, so he going to go after it. And how has he helped you, you think, since he’s been here um a little bit so far? Just being like that, I mean, that’s going to help everybody for real. It just builds character and you see somebody playing like that, it obviously make the next dude play harder. And then having Trey man back this year, man, how much do you think he’s going to help the team and what’s it been like having him around the last few months here? Yeah. No, I don’t I don’t love Trey game ever since I known him since a kid. So, I mean, Trey a great player. I mean, we missed him when he got hurt. So, healthy this year, I think he a real problem. Lamelo, your team added a lot of shooters in the off seasonason. How’s that going to help you? You can say that again for me. I can’t really hear it. The team added a lot of shooters in the off season. How is that going to help you run the offense and make it a more efficient offense this season? You said shooters. Shooters, you know, like Khan and Le just spacing the floor for real. I mean, the whole the whole floor going to be open now. I mean, you drive, you got a shooter in the corner, you got a shooter right there. It just makes the defense way harder. They got to guard everything now, you know. Does that make things easier for you then? Uh, for sure. Like I said, it just opened the whole game up. Hi, Lamelo. Um, you don’t just play ball, you’re so good at creating memes. You got 67, you got run it, you got a lot more, but which one is your personal favorite? You said creating memes. Yes. I think I think that’s something that just just happens. I don’t I don’t really know. You don’t have like a favorite one? A favorite one? Uh that 67 one going crazy right now. That’s probably the one on top of my head. Look at big dog in the back hitting it. Yeah, I see him. You had your most You had your most successful season playing alongside Terry Roier in the back court. The team added a couple ball handlers this summer. Are you excited to kind of get back to the way you were playing when you shared the back court with Terry moving off the ball a little bit? I’m just excited to get back to playing basketball period. Coach mentioned playing faster this year, like uptempo, right? What about that for you? How much look forward to that? And how do you guys how’s it going to help you guys play better this year? Do you think playing faster? I already think we just a uptempo team. So, I I think it’s just going to all mesh together well and I think it should help. This was a pretty fun draft class that the Hornets brought in. What’s been your impression of the rookies so far? And even just seeing them during summer league, what was that like for you to watch them go on and win it all? Yeah, I love all the rookies. I mean, just them winning the little summer league thing, that was big. As you could tell, they they take stuff serious, so you got to love that. I feel like all of them is just locked in and they just want to win for real. So, I feel like everything just fits right. Lamela, um, what is one thing about Khan Canipple that has surprised you? I’m not going to lie. I’m I’m go with the the bounce for real. I ain’t know he can jump like that. He he done caught caught a few little dunks. I’m like, hold on. I just seen white man can’t jump at the end. He kind of jumping like that the whole day though. Solid. LaMelo, expectations are extremely high for you this season. How do you manage those outside expectations while also balancing your own? Uh, I just live my life and like I said, try to be the best me I could be. So that’s being a leader. That’s showing up every day trying to get as much wins as we could. So that’s what I’m going to do.

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