<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-how-lamelo-ball-inspired-miles-bridges-calling-out-bum-play');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Hornets’ LaMelo Ball inspired Miles Bridges by calling out ‘bum’ play');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Ball-and-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Hornets’ LaMelo Ball inspired Miles Bridges by calling out ‘bum’ play</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T14:22:43-07:00">October 27th, 2:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T14:22:43-07:00">October 27th, 2:22pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University alum from Atlanta who graduated with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s not often that an NBA team finds itself down by double figures at halftime and still ends up winning the game by 26 points, but that’s exactly what happened <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-brandon-miller-miss-wizards-game-injury">to the Charlotte Hornets</a> on Sunday evening when they improved to 2-1 with a road win against the Washington Wizards. It was another strong effort<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-has-perfect-response-favorite-part-11th-triple-double"> from point guard LaMelo Ball</a>, who recorded an impressive triple double of 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in the victory.</p><p>After the game, Hornets power forward Miles Bridges, who scored 22 in the game, spoke on how Ball <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article312549473.html" rel="noopener">motivated him to play better</a> when the team had been falling behind.</p><p>“(Shoot), it was really Melo,” Bridges said, per Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “Melo came in, gave me an ear full. I didn’t come out ready to play, so I’m not used to Melo doing that. “He told me, ‘Lock in. Lock in, play like I usually play. I’m playing like a (bum) right now. He turned it up and everybody else turned up. We go as the head of the snake go. So, if he’s leading like that, with that type of passion, people are going to listen to him.”</p><p>Ball has indeed turned into much more of a vocal leader throughout his time as the Hornets point guard.</p><h2><b>An intriguing Hornets team</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/harlotte-Hornets-guard-LaMelo-Ball-1-dribbles-past-Washington-Wizards-forward-Corey-Kispert-24.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Charlotte Hornets have been mired in NBA purgatory for a decade now since their last playoff appearance all the way back in 2016, but the team is hoping that this year, they’ll be able to turn things around.</p><p>Ball looks to be playing the best basketball of his career to open up this season, and the Hornets also have some intriguing young players on the wing, such as Brandon Miller, as well as rookie Kon Knueppel, who scored 20 in the win over Washington.</p><p>Overall, in a weakened Eastern Conference, it’s not hard to envision the Hornets hanging in there and competing for a spot in the playoffs in 2025-26. They’ll next take the floor on Tuesday evening on the road against the Miami Heat.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Hornets’ LaMelo Ball inspired Miles Bridges by calling out ‘bum’ play

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-lamelo-ball-has-perfect-response-favorite-part-11th-triple-double');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets’ LaMelo Ball has perfect response to favorite part of 11th triple-double');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lamelo-Ball_42e994.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hornets’ LaMelo Ball has perfect response to favorite part of 11th triple-double</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T21:01:41-07:00">October 26th, 9:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T21:03:28-07:00">October 26th, 9:03pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LaMelo Ball made his thoughts on his triple-double performance clear after the Charlotte <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-lamelo-balls-game-losing-chuck-draws-painful-groan-announcer">Hornets’ 139-113 win over the Washington Wizards</a> on Sunday evening.</p><p>In 35 minutes of action, Ball filled up the stat sheet. He finished with a triple-double of 38 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists, and three steals. He shot 13-of-25 from the field, including 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. It marked the 11th triple-double of his career, another example of his willingness to be active in multiple areas of the game.</p><p>Ball <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1982612143163036062" rel="noopener">reflected on the performance</a> after the game, via the broadcast. The reporter asked him about the favorite part of his display, only needing two words for his response.</p><p>“You had your 11th triple double today, 38 (points), 13 (rebounds), 13 (assists) and three steals. Which one of those stats means the most to you?” the reporter asked.</p><p>“The win. The win means the most,” Ball said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LaMelo Ball (38p, 13a, 13r) recorded his 11th career triple-double tonight!</p><p>The only stat that mattered to him?</p><p>THE WIN 💯 <a href="https://t.co/iE23Z4V4k6">pic.twitter.com/iE23Z4V4k6</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1982612143163036062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How LaMelo Ball, Hornets played against Wizards</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/harlotte-Hornets-guard-LaMelo-Ball-1-dribbles-past-Washington-Wizards-forward-Corey-Kispert-24.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was an impressive performance for LaMelo Ball to have, leading the Hornets to their first road win of the season against the Wizards.</p><p>Washington originally had the momentum in the first half, leading 62-51 at halftime. However, the Hornets fired back by outscoring the hosts 88-51 in the last 24 minutes of regulation, securing the win in dominant fashion.</p><p>Perimeter shooting, rebounding and turnovers made the difference in this matchup. The Hornets won all three categories after making 15 3-pointers and grabbing 52 rebounds while limiting their turnovers to 11. It wasn’t the same for the Wizards, converting just 10 triples and securing 40 rebounds but turning the ball over 15 times.</p><p>Six players scored in double-digits for Charlotte, including Ball. Miles Bridges had a solid outing with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He shot 6-of-16 overall, including 1-of-7 from downtown, and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Collin Sexton came next with 20 points and three assists, Kon Knueppel had 20 points and six rebounds, Sion James put up 13 points and four assists, while Moussa Diabate provided 12 points and 10 rebounds.</p><p>The Hornets will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They face the Miami Heat on Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets’ LaMelo Ball has perfect response to favorite part of 11th triple-double

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-lamelo-balls-game-losing-chuck-draws-painful-groan-announcer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets star LaMelo Ball’s game-losing chuck draws painful groan from announcer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LaMelo-Ball.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hornets star LaMelo Ball’s game-losing chuck draws painful groan from announcer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T11:23:37-07:00">October 26th, 11:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T11:32:20-07:00">October 26th, 11:32am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte Hornets came painfully close to pulling off a much-needed win, but it all unraveled in the final moments, and LaMelo Ball was right in the middle of it. With just 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers were tied.</p><p>LaMelo had the ball at the top of the key and the chance to take the lead. But instead of running a play or driving to the basket, the All-Star guard stepped back for a deep 3-pointer that barely grazed the rim. The shot drew a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1oglbhn/lowlight_before_quentin_grimes_hit_the/" rel="noopener">painful groan</a> from the broadcast booth and left fans befuddled as the ball barely clanked off the front iron, a symbol of Charlotte’s frustrating night.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LaMelo Ball is so talented but you can’t be a winning player doing stuff like this. Just inexcusable. Poor Charlotte Hornets fans. <a href="https://t.co/AnkYI8Hq8i">pic.twitter.com/AnkYI8Hq8i</a></p><p>— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheah/status/1982268426937590100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Moments later, the 76ers made the Hornets pay for it. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/76ers-news-quentin-grimes-brings-house-down-breaks-hornets-heat-dagger-3">Quentin Grimes stepped into a clean look</a> from beyond the arc and drilled a decisive 3-pointer, erupting the crowd inside Xfinity Mobile Arena. The shot sealed a narrow but emotional victory for Philadelphia, leaving the Hornets to rue a late collapse and Ball’s questionable decision-making.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">QUENTIN. GRIMES.</p><p>HE GIVES THE SIXERS THE LEAD WITH 13.9 SECONDS LEFT 🚨</p><p>WATCH: <a href="https://t.co/rZkoYv1RLs">https://t.co/rZkoYv1RLs</a> <a href="https://t.co/qGjJwU6aoG">pic.twitter.com/qGjJwU6aoG</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1982267686991147422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-chandler-parsons-reveals-lamelo-balls-harsh-nba-reality">It was a bitter ending for LaMelo,</a> who otherwise had a strong individual performance. He finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in 33 minutes, shooting 8-of-18 from the field and 4-of-11 from 3-point range. But his final miss overshadowed what could have been a statement night for the young star.</p><p>The Hornets received solid support from Miles Bridges (18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner, who went a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor for 14 points. However, Charlotte’s defensive lapses and poor late-game execution proved too costly.</p><p>After the loss, it’s clear the Hornets still need to find their composure in crunch-time situations. For LaMelo Ball, whose leadership and shot selection are constantly under scrutiny, this latest misfire adds another chapter to a growing narrative, one where talent alone isn’t enough to close games.</p><p>Charlotte will look to bounce back when it returns home for its next matchup, hoping to turn the star’s confidence into smarter, winning plays down the stretch.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets star LaMelo Ball’s game-losing chuck draws painful groan from announcer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-chandler-parsons-reveals-lamelo-balls-harsh-nba-reality');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chandler Parsons reveals LaMelo Ball’s harsh NBA reality');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LaMelo-Ball-of-the-Charlotte-Hornets-1.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Chandler Parsons reveals LaMelo Ball’s harsh NBA reality</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-24T11:33:25-07:00">October 24th, 11:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-24T11:33:25-07:00">October 24th, 11:33am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-kon-knueppel-potluck-claim-charlotte-136-point-explosion">Charlotte Hornets are aiming to reach the playoffs</a> for the first time since the 2015-16 season. All eyes are on LaMelo Ball to lead a young roster to a successful season, as the front office has acquired several intriguing long-term options over the past several years. However, former NBA player turned analyst Chandler Parsons dropped a not-so-desirable take about Ball and his team.</p><p>In the latest episode of “Run it Back,” brought to you by FanDuel, Parsons claims that Ball, who is 24 years old, is ultimately a fun player to watch in the league. However, Parsons doesn’t believe that LaMelo Ball <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1981760490734059946" rel="noopener">is a top-five point guard</a> in the NBA and doesn’t see the Hornets having a successful year.</p><p>“And a guy like him won’t ever fully get the flowers he deserves until he wins,” said Parsons about Ball. “And [the Hornets are] nowhere near winning. That’s the problem… He is must watch TV, and no one’s watching. It’s the Charlotte Hornets’ problem… But he’s not a top-five point guard, and they’re gonna be a bottom-five team. So, it’s hard to get the accolades and respect you want when you’re not winning games consistently.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“[LaMelo] is not a top-5 point guard and [The Hornets] are gonna be a bottom-5 team." </p><p>Chandler Parsons on LaMelo Ball and Charlotte 👀</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/RunItBackFDTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RunItBackFDTV</a> )<a href="https://t.co/EtLYjAf7bD">pic.twitter.com/EtLYjAf7bD</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1981760490734059946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>LaMelo Ball is in his sixth season in the league and hasn’t had the opportunity to participate in the playoffs yet. He’s been a bright spot on the team, though, as he is averaging 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game throughout his career. He also owns a career 42.1% field goal percentage while shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc.</p><p>Although Chandler Parsons just doesn’t see it in the Hornets right now, Charlotte does have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. As Parsons pointed out, Ball is a thrilling player to watch and has a knack for stuffing the stat sheet. If guys like Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges step up, while rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner flash potential, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-did-charlotte-strike-gold-1-2-rookie-punch">Hornets could certainly make some noise</a> in the back half of the season.</p><p>After earning a 136-117 win over the Brooklyn Nets in the season opener, LaMelo Ball and the Hornets are set to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers. That game tips off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Chandler Parsons reveals LaMelo Ball’s harsh NBA reality

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-why-lamelo-ball-is-in-perfect-position-for-massive-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is in perfect position for massive season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LaMelo-Ball.jpg"><figcaption>© Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is in perfect position for massive season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-18T11:47:56-07:00">October 18th, 11:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-18T11:47:56-07:00">October 18th, 11:47am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-charlotte-waives-spencer-dinwiddie-3-months-after-signing-him">Charlotte Hornets prepare to open the 2025‑26 NBA season</a>, guard LaMelo Ball appears to be entering the perfect alignment of personal growth and team context to deliver a breakout campaign.</p><p>Ball, now 24, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1630163" rel="noopener">posted solid numbers</a> during the Hornets’ five‑game preseason slate: 17.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 54.5 % from the field and 46.9 % from three across four contests playing 22.7 minutes.</p><p>By comparison, during the 2024‑25 preseason he averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and one block per game while shooting 38 % from the field and 41.7 % from three across four games playing about 21 minutes.<br>Those marked gains point to improved efficiency and decision‑making, as well as a heightened confidence in his role.</p><p>During the 2024‑25 regular season Ball delivered what remains his best statistical showing: 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, along with 1.1 steals, while shooting 40.5 % from the field and 33.9 % from three in 47 games averaging 32 minutes per contest.<br>Those numbers confirm the Hornets’ reliance on Ball as their offensive core.</p><p>But the supporting context has shifted materially. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-collin-sexton-trade-charlotte">Hornets added veteran guard Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz</a> in return for center Jusuf  Nurkic and a 2030 second‑round pick — a move that suggests a desire to bolster back‑court scoring and relieve some ball‑handling pressure. Meanwhile, rookie forward Kon Knueppel (No. 4 overall pick) joins rising wing Brandon Miller, and healthy Miles Bridges returns fully available. That combination gives Ball a deeper cast and added flexibility to operate within a more potent system.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LaMelo Ball had an EFFICIENT preseason:</p><p>15.3 PPG<br>60.7 FG%<br>55.0 3P%<br>21.0 MPG<a href="https://twitter.com/MELOD1P?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELOD1P</a> and the Hornets open their season 10/22 vs. Brooklyn on NBA League Pass! <a href="https://t.co/TPa9f65hL5">pic.twitter.com/TPa9f65hL5</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1979607222834298942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Hornets surround LaMelo Ball with healthy core and upgraded supporting cast ahead of 2025-26</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Brandon-Miller-shares-main-thing-amid-glaring-issue-involving-LaMelo-Ball.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In addition, Charlotte enters the season healthier and more stable than it has in recent years. The franchise, which struggled through a 19‑63 record last season, finally fields a roster with fewer injury‑related caveats and greater upside. With Ball’s preseason surge and the roster upgrades, the Hornets may be poised for their best season since the 2021‑22 campaign, when they won 43 games and advanced to the Play‑In Tournament.</p><p>Ball’s effectiveness will be amplified if the Hornets’ supporting pieces take the next step. The addition of Sexton offers an experienced scoring punch; Knueppel supplies shooting and versatile offense; Miller and Bridges provide dual‑threat scoring and positional versatility. If these pieces mesh, Ball’s playmaking and scoring could elevate the team’s ceiling significantly.</p><p>Moreover, the improved efficiency in Ball’s preseason — especially his shooting percentages — hints at a refined offensive game. The step from 38 % to 54.5 % in a limited sample should be taken with caution, but it signals progress toward greater shot selection and execution.</p><p>The Hornets concluded their preseason with a 2‑3 record after a 113‑108 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.</p><p>While preseason records hold little predictive weight, the competitive track and Ball’s form offer encouraging signals.</p><p>Charlotte opens its regular season on Wednesday when it hosts the Brooklyn Nets at 7:00 p.m. ET. With Ball entering at the top of his game and the roster better equipped around him, the Hornets appear to be in the right position for a potentially massive season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
28.3	8.3	9.7	0.3	2.0

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
28.3	8.3	9.7	0.3	2.0

LaMelo Ball

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Hornets star LaMelo Ball’s game-losing chuck draws painful groan from announcer

Chandler Parsons reveals LaMelo Ball’s harsh NBA reality

Why Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is in perfect position for massive season

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