LaMelo Ball’s Ambitious Future Plans
In a revealing moment from his pre-draft interviews, LaMelo Ball, now a guard for the Charlotte Hornets, expressed an ambitious plan for his future: he aspires to be the President of the United States after retiring from basketball. This surprising revelation occurred during interviews leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft, where the Minnesota Timberwolves ultimately chose Anthony Edwards as the first overall pick, passing on Ball.
Insights from Jon Krawczynski
Sports reporter Jon Krawczynski shared insights on the Zach Lowe Podcast, highlighting how Ball’s interview may not have gone as smoothly as the Timberwolves had hoped. According to Krawczynski, during the interview process, an inquiry about Ball’s long-term aspirations led to his unusual response, which perhaps contributed to the Timberwolves’ decision to select Edwards instead. Krawczynski explained:
“LaMelo did not interview very well… When asked what he wanted to do after basketball, he intriguingly stated he wanted to be President.”
Draft Outcomes and Player Performance
When the draft concluded, Edwards, who has since proven himself as a prolific scorer and All-Star player, has averaged 23.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over his career so far. This season, he is boasting an impressive average of 27.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while leading the Timberwolves, who hold a 7-4 record.
In contrast, the Hornets selected LaMelo Ball as the third overall pick, just behind the Golden State Warriors’ selection of James Wiseman at second overall. LaMelo’s career stats show he posts averages of 21.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6 rebounds per game. After receiving the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2020-21, he became one of the youngest players to achieve All-Star status the following year.
Challenges and Current Season Performance
However, he has faced significant challenges due to injuries, having played only 237 games in total compared to Edwards’ 388 games, and the Hornets currently have a struggling record of 4-7.
Despite the setbacks, LaMelo is putting up strong numbers this season, averaging 23.3 points, 9.8 assists, and 7.8 rebounds before suffering an ankle injury that has kept him out of the recent five games. The latest matchup between the two teams saw the Timberwolves dominate the Hornets 122-105, where Ball contributed 18 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds before his injury setback.
The next chance for these two franchises to meet again will be on April 6. Meanwhile, both teams are looking to regain momentum, with the Timberwolves preparing to face the Kings and the Hornets set to go against the Bucks shortly after.
