Hornets’ LaMelo Ball joins elite company with first career choice

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced injury replacements for Kevin Durant and Draymond Green for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on Monday afternoon.

Silver named LaMelo Ball and Dejounte Murray as substitutes to join the All-Star reserve team

Ball, Rookie of the Year 2020-21, learned of his achievement just minutes before the Hornets hosted the Raptors in Charlotte.

LaMelo was all smiling after finding out he was on his first All Star game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/79aLxUS8RT

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2022

Ball’s All-Star title joins him in the all-time elite NBA roster.

At 20 years and 182 days, Ball will be the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to enter an All-Star game, with only Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Magic Johnson as young.

Per the HornetsBall is also the 11th player ever to be named an All-Star before their 21st birthday.

Overall, LaMelo will be the fourth youngest person to appear in the All-Star Game, after Kobe, LeBron and Magic.

He is in good company pic.twitter.com/PCfJqCrTLH

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 8, 2022

Ball is the first Hornets player to be named an All-Star since Kemba Walker (2019).

Overall, he is the eighth player in franchise history to join the All-Star Game, along with the likes of Larry Johnson (1993, 1995), Alonzo Mourning (1994, 1995), Glen Rice (1996, 1995). 1997, 1998), Eddie Jones (2000), Baron Davis (2002), Gerald Wallace (2010) and Kemba Walker (2017, 2018, 2019).

Ball is only the third Hornets player to earn an All-Star in their third season – Johnson (1993) and Mourning (1994).

After Monday’s game, the 6-foot-7 keeper is averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 48 appearances. His four doubles this season are already a single-season franchise record.

Youngest Player to Play in an NBA All-Star Game