The Charlotte Hornets are a well-known fish belly in the NBA.
In their 34-year franchise history, not only have they never made it to the Finals, but they have never even touched the floor of the Eastern Conference Finals. Charlotte fans haven't tasted the playoffs since the 2015-16 season. Last season, the Hornets were just 21-61 and desperately needed to transform into a winning division more than any other team in the league.
Luckily, the Hornets already have the key to open the door to victory. In the 2020 and 2023 drafts, the Hornets selected the talented LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, respectively. Ball, 22, and Miller, 21, both have unlimited potential, and they are expected to lead the Hornets to unprecedented heights.
At the age of 20, Ball became the fourth-youngest All-Star in NBA history. Miller, on the other hand, rose to prominence in the second half of last season, finishing third in the Rookie of the Year selection, proving that he is indeed a top-three player in the draft.
Ball is one of the most talented defenders on the roster
At 2.01 meters tall, LaMelo Ball has a significant height advantage at the point guard position, and his skill skills make him the best in the position. With his creativity, speed, agility and big stride, Ball controlled the game and left his opponents in the dust.
And, he combines superior dribbling skills with a variety of shots to forge a lethal jump shot. In addition, Ball also has silky throwing skills and is able to score in the box with ease.
However, what really took Ball's talent to the next level was his breathtaking passing ability. Although the Hornets' disappointing record affected his progress to becoming the league's No. 1 point guard, his passing skills were undoubtedly top-notch.
Ball is often able to make decisive passes that are both flashy and bold, reminiscent of the demeanor of "Magic" Johnson. Whenever he doesn his iconic PUMA boots, he delivers a number of stunning assists. Whether it's a full pitch of long or blind passes, Ball is able to fully demonstrate his vision and innovative spirit through his playmaking skills.
In the first five games at the start of last season, Ball got off to a slow start, but then quickly found his form and played his best performance of last season. Over the next 17 games, Ball averaged 26.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range, tearing apart opponents' defenses with an unstoppable performance.
Sadly, Ball's fourth NBA season came to an abrupt end after playing just 22 games due to ankle tendonitis. Injury issues also cut his third season to just 36 games.
But even so, with his health, Ball has proven his potential to make the leap to superstardom; All he needs to do is stay healthy to make the most of his talents.
Brandon Miller: Hornets' future superstar
At 2.03 meters tall, Brandon Miller is a bit taller than the average defender, so he has the skills of a defender and the size of a wing.
Unlike Ball, though, Miller is more inclined to score than assist. He's adept at using his lethal jumper to break down defenses, both inside and outside the three-point line. In his rookie season, Miller has proven himself to be an excellent shooter with his ball handling, skill and footwork.
Miller really found his rhythm in the second half of his rookie season. In the last 37 games of his rookie season, he averaged nearly 20 points per game, showing great efficiency and consistency. His averages across five stat categories, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, have improved, and his scoring efficiency has increased.
Comparison of the average numbers of the two periods before and after Miller's rookie season:
| data | Average data for the first 37 games | After 37 field averages |
| score | 14.8 | 19.8 |
| backboard | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Assisting | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Steals | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Caps | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Two-point shooting percentage | 47.2% | 52.9% |
| Three-point shooting percentage | 38.7% | 36.3% |
| True hit rate | 54.4% | 55.8% |
Miller has great athleticism, soft touch, and sharp basketball instincts, and his skill package includes a powerful jump shot, dynamic ball handling, advanced scoring skills, and a silky touch as an outside player with great running and jumping ability. As he gains muscle and develops peripheral skills, Miller's future looks bright.
The combination of Ball and Miller caused problems for opponents
At 2.01 meters tall, Ball and 2.03 meters Miller form a tall backcourt combination that creates a tricky problem for the opposition defence and gives an edge on the defensive end. Both men possess the ball and create attacking chances, and their combination opens up endless possibilities for the game.
On the offensive end, they are both outside threats and can effectively pull away from the defense. However, the pair's health is crucial, especially for Ball. In his career, he has missed too many games.
Ball and Miller are among the top young duos in the NBA, but if they can't get on the court and show their talent, then their talent can't be talked about.
Charlotte Hornets fans, have waited too long. Now, it's time for the city to go crazy for basketball again and for fans to feel the excitement of the playoffs again. With Ball and Miller growing, the rise of the Hornets may be just around the next corner.
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