LaMelo Ball has etched his name alongside Hornets legends, passing Dell Curry for second on the franchise’s all-time three-pointers list as Charlotte pushes for a playoff berth.
The Charlotte Hornets delivered a statement victory, routing the Sacramento Kings 134-90 to improve to 38-34 and keep their feverish push for the postseason alive. But beyond the lopsided score, the night belonged to LaMelo Ball, who not only produced an all-around stat line (20 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals) but also surgically dismantled the Kings’ defense by draining six three-pointers.
That volume from deep was precisely what Ball needed to accomplish a significant franchise milestone. Entering the game with 925 made threes as a Hornet, he required four to surpass Dell Curry‘s tally of 929. By connecti ng on six, Ball vaulted into sole possession of second place on Charlotte’s all-time list, trailing only Kemba Walker (1,283) according to Basketball-Reference’s franchise records.
Ball’s individual brilliance was complemented by a superb team effort. Guard Coby White, coming off the bench, erupted for a game-high 27 points, providing the offensive spark that helped bury the Kings early. White’s production is part of a broader trend: Ball’s counting stats have dipped this season (19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists on 36.7% shooting from deep per Basketball-Reference), but that’s largely by design. He’s sacrificing volume for efficiency and impact within a far more balanced and winning system.
The Hornets’ resurgence has caught the attention of analysts far and wide. Bill Simmons of The Ringer dedicated a recent segment of his podcast to Ball’s transformation, arguing that the raw numbers don’t tell the full story. “He’s actually had seasons with better ‘stats,'” Simmons stated. “This is a classic eye test; you have to watch it. I love the way he’s playing.” The commentary highlighted a critical evolution: Ball is now a more calculating point guard, eliminating the reckless improvisation that once defined his game.
Simmons specifically credited Ball for understanding the symbiotic potential of the Hornets’ young core. “He understands they have these two incredible wings,” Simmons said, highlighting the synergy between Ball and a pair of promising forwards: the explosive Brandon Miller and sharpshooting rookie Kon Knueppel. Simmons even quipped that Knueppel has a legitimate chance to hit 300 threes as a rookie, a feat that would be “nuts,” while comparing Miller’s current form to “the best version of Paul George in the 2010s.”
The Hornets currently sit 2.5 games behind the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. With their current win streak, Charlotte has a realistic path to securing a top-six seed and avoiding the Play-In Tournament altogether—a scenario that would mark the franchise’s first postseason appearance since the 2016 season. Ball’s milestone, therefore, isn’t just a statistical footnote; it’s a symbol of a team ascending at the perfect moment, with its star point guard playing the most complete—if less statistically gaudy—basketball of his career.
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