The City of Charlotte is waging a sports battle between the expectations surrounding a franchise and the desires of a player. On one side are the Hornets, a team mired in a downward line of results buoyed by numerous injuries. On the other, LaMelo Ball emerges and his terrible competitive voracity.
The 21-year-old is defined by the same deep and utter refusal to lose that accompanied all-time greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and, more recently, Luka Doncic. The Hornets point guard wants to win at everything, including the trivial shooting games posed by assistants at target practice.
This dichotomy between individual desire and collective performance comprises the main challenge facing the Hornets’ front office. At least, the player’s personality favors a breathable climate despite the fact that the focus of the conflict remains unchanged.
As Charlotte’s emotional compass, LaMelo’s passion and fun for basketball is contagious. Her positive spirit is too. Perhaps this is the main reason why the Hornets have not given up despite occupying the penultimate position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-36. The recent victory against Chicago after overwhelming in the last quarter with a 17-34 run is proof that the team has not lost the spark and wants to compete.
