“See Nothing But Purple and Gold”: Former Chicago Bulls Star Makes Insane LaMelo Ball Claim

Following a loss in the play-in tournament, LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets were eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight season. The Hornets were thrashed 132-103 by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. It may be a stretch, but the full approach in which the 20-year-old is going about his business was last seen by a guy by the name of LeBron James in the mid-2000s.

Although his stats are nowhere near those of James in his second season in the league, the 6’7 point guard had a good season with the Hornets, placing ninth in the East with 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

The Hornets’ offseason will be highly fascinating after yet another season of missing the playoffs. Ball is scheduled for a rookie max contract deal next year, so the Hornets need the cap room.

Jay Williams feels LaMelo Ball is built for the Lakers

It would be a mistake to allow LaMelo to go in free agency since he is one of the top young players in the NBA now. However, ESPN’s Jay Williams feels the LA Lakers are the best option for Ball if he wants to leave Charlotte.

“When I look at LaMelo Ball, I see nothing but Purple and Gold. It’s written over the way he dresses, the style in which he pulls up to games. It relates to his whole social media image, where he’s from and his dad has so much to do with how things are orchestrated even with Lonzo getting there the first time,” Williams said.

ESPN’s First Take began with anchor Molly Qerim questioning commentators and former NBA players Tim Legler and Jayson Williams on how LaMelo will handle the Hawks’ defeat and whether it will cause him to consider taking his skills elsewhere. LaMelo Ball is poised to become a restricted free agency following the 2023-24 NBA season, having recently completed his second season.

As Williams pointed out, this is the ideal time for the LA Lakers to broker a deal and bring Ball back to Los Angeles. LaMelo grew up in Chino Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles that is less than an hour away.