Charlotte Hornets exec Jeff Peterson spoke about LaMelo Ball's seriousness.
If you think Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball isn't serious about basketball, you're mistaken.
During an interview with Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, exec Jeff Peterson spoke about Ball's seriousness.
“We’ve got to give credit to LaMelo himself,” Peterson said, “because ever since I’ve been here, he’s been serious. I know last year he got banged up and just couldn’t finish the season. But even this summer, he took it extremely seriously, in terms of being in the weight room constantly. He put on 10 to 12 extra pounds of muscle, which helps. “It’s certainly going to help in the playoffs once we get there and all, just because the game becomes more physical, it slows down. Teams know LaMelo is the head of the snake, so if we get him frustrated or whatever it may be. ... So again, I’ll go back to the work that he put in this summer and then just being extra diligent with his rehab.”
Ball is having a great season for the Hornets. The one-time All-Star is averaging 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 40.8% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the arc and 89.5% from the free-throw line.
Charlotte will have a winning record this season for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. It's been a great campaign for Peterson's group.
“I knew when I took the job that Charlotte has one of the most robust and passionate fan bases," Peterson said. "I think the original Hornets led the league in attendance in eight straight years or something like that. This area of the country, the Carolinas, is very passionate about basketball. So, it makes me happy because the fans deserve it.
“We played in Brooklyn and there were a ton of Hornets fans in there. The fans are deserving. I’m very excited for the players and the coaches, too, just to be able to see it and feel it. The fans have been tremendous, and I feel like I’m just a steward of the team trying to carry out a vision to help them, help the fans achieve what they want to achieve and feel a part of it.”
As of this writing, the Hornets are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. If Charlotte finishes seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th, the team will be in the NBA play-in tournament.
As the seventh or eighth seed, the Hornets would have to win one play-in game to make the playoffs. They would have two chances.
As the ninth or 10th seed, Charlotte would have to win two games to make the playoffs. If they lose the first game, the season is over.
To automatically qualify for the playoffs, the Hornets have to be the sixth seed or better. Charlotte hasn't made the playoffs since 2016.
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