LaMelo Ball has never blended in. From the moment the electric guard was drafted, he’s earned a reputation for playing with a flair that turns routine possessions into highlights and makes Charlotte Hornets games worth tuning into, even when the standings suggest otherwise. But after the team’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, one legendary point guard has shifted the conversation from how he plays to what kind of player he ultimately wants to be.
“He’s a real difference maker,” former Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas said on the nationally televised Peacock broadcast. “The decision he has to make, does he want to entertain and be a fun guy, or does he want to win?”
It isn’t a critique of Ball’s talent, but a challenge to his priorities. When asked by his co-hosts what LaMelo needs to do now, Thomas was clear:
“All the players around the league like him. When they start hating him and disliking him, that’s when he’ll start winning. And right now, he’s got to make a decision. Do I want to win or do I want to be liked?”