The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most unexpectedly excellent teams this calendar year. A typically slow start to the year had most people writing them off as a Play-In team at best. But near the end of January, the team flipped a switch, and it has fully taken off.
With a bunch of exciting foundational pieces on the roster, the future looks even brighter for the organization. The chemistry is also buzzing along between the players. That chemistry was on full display as Moussa Diabaté made a hilarious admission about LaMelo Ball.
Despite Strong Play, LaMelo Ball Hasn’t Earned Driving Duties Just Yet
At 16-28, it was easy to assume that the season was all but over for fans in Charlotte. Rookie Kon Knueppel was the lone bright spot on the roster as he continued to make his case as a savvy sharpshooter.
However, a turnaround that began with a 124-97 domination of the Orlando Magic hasn’t let up just yet. The team has gone 23-6 since then and is currently tied for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors.
Knueppel has maintained his strong form, while the rest of the roster has fallen into place. Ball is as consistent as ever, with Brandon Miller becoming the perfect complementary piece. However, Diabaté has filled a major hole in the lineup.
Without a starting-quality center, the team had been constantly struggling to find a big body. Now, the second-round pick from the 2022 NBA Draft has stepped into that role seamlessly, averaging 8.2 points and 8.8 rebounds on 62.7% shooting from the field.
The fans are excited for the first time in a long time, and the camaraderie in the locker room is only going to make them even higher on this squad. During a recent appearance on “The Zach Lowe Show,” the longtime NBA insider and analyst had a hilarious question for the youngster.
“Have you ever been in a car driven by LaMelo Ball?” Immediately laughing, Diabaté responded, “Hell naw, never will.” He then collected himself and added, “He had that one incident that happened but nah, I haven’t.”
Ball’s love for cars has been a tale ever since he first burst onto the scene. But it has also led to a few cases of reckless driving and an accident that happened this year in February. His camouflage-colored, custom-made Hummer crashed into another vehicle in Uptown Charlotte, but thankfully, no one was hurt.
While his driving skills could use some improvement, his play on the court has become a serious problem for every other team in the league. Fresh off a win over the New York Knicks, it seems like the sky’s the limit for these Hornets.
