lamelo ball

WBT afternoon host Brett Winterble joins Bo Thompson and Beth Troutman to discuss new Covid-19 safety protocols being implemented at Charlotte Hornets games, LaMelo Ball's favorite place to eat in Charlotte, and a panoply of different topicalities.

Ball averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds in 51 games to lead the Hornets into the NBA's play-in tournament. Despite dealing with a hand injury and missing 21 games he finished second in scoring among all rookies during the regular season. 

The NBA Rookie of the Year front-runner appeared to suffer the injury after falling to the floor early in Saturday night's 125-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Ball played through the pain and finished with 13 points.

"My thing is, he ain't happy with that, but he ain't going to show that," LaVar Ball told TMZ Sports. "If I train you to be the best and always have been starting all your life — here is what they don't get. My boys are not freakin' role players. They are superstars! Let them do what they do."

The 19-year-old rookie sensation became the youngest player to record a triple-double in league history with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists on Saturday night. He lead the Charlotte Hornets to a third straight victory with a 113-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

LaMelo Ball faces a heated rivalry with an opponent he knows very well. The NBA newcomer for the Charlotte Hornets takes on his brother Lonzo Ball and the Pelicans in New Orleans Friday night in a rare nationally televised game (TV: ESPN, Radio: WFNZ).