There’s a rumor going back in Charlotte and Hornets legend Muggsy Bogues is enjoying watching his old team grow into one of the NBA’s most exciting youth teams.
The Hornets are creating a solid chance in the playoffs throughout the first quarter of the season and a big reason why is the play of defending Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, following in the Bogues’ footsteps as the Hornets highlight guardian.
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Bogues told Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford during the NBA Hooper Vision live broadcast of the Hornets vs Bucks: “LaMelo is contagious, the boys love to play with him.
“It’s great to see a guy come in with the kind of person who is humble and willing to want to enhance his team spirit and I think that his playing abroad last year has allowed him to develop to compete. with those pro players and give him a head start to get on with these guys and it’s been remarkable from last year to this year.”
The Hornets fell flat out of embarrassment in post-production on LaMelo’s rookie campaign, losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Play-In Tournament. As it stands, the Hornets are 13-11, good for sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, with their young core being LaMelo, Miles Bridges and Kelly Oubre Jr. continues to improve alongside veterans Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier.
Bogues added: “This year, everyone who is healthy and plays basketball shares that you have four boys averaging pretty much 20 points,” added Bogues.
“With the veterans and young men, I think it’s really a sight to behold for the city of Charlotte… I think these guys love to play together.”
Ball was almost a hero in Milwaukee, draining a triple clutch to tie it up at 125-125 with 5.9 seconds remaining, before Giannis Antetokounmpo swam down the other end to thrash the win.
He finished with a career-high 36 points of the night, adding nine assists, five rebounds, steals and saves 12 of 22 shots and eight of 15 from the 3-point line.
The Hornets have racked up some impressive wins this season, beating the Washington Wizards (twice), the Golden State Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers.
After tonight’s loss to the Bucks, they face a tough game that will test the youth team, facing the Atlanta Hawks, facing the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets in 10 games play next.
