Charlotte Hornets

For the first time since the 2004-05 season, a Charlotte Hornets player has been named NBA Rookie of the Year. 

LaMelo Ball beat out Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the award.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.

Ball landed in Charlotte after being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft. He was regarded by  many as the best player in last year's draft class, but concerns about his fit with teams picking in the top two spots and his shooting caused him to have a modest slide. 

Things couldn't have worked out better for the Hornets. The 19-year-old became a breakout star during the 2020-21 season, especially after head coach James Borrego moved him into the starting lineup. 

Even before becoming a full-time starter, Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. He dropped 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in a 113-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 9. 

In his first 21 games as a starter, he averaged 19.5 points on 42.6 percent three-point shooting, 6.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds. He suffered a fractured right wrist on March 20 against the Los Angeles Clippers that required surgery and initially seemed like that was the end of his rookie season. 

The Hornets announced on April 19 that Ball's wrist was healed and he could return to basketball activities. 

After returning to the lineup on May 1, he ended the regular season averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. 

Despite missing 21 games because of the injury, Ball's arrival elevated the Hornets to at least being respectable in the Eastern Conference. They had more wins through 47 games this season (24) than they did in 65 games in 2019-20 (23). 

Ball gave the Hornets (33-39) an identity and a legitimate star talent to build around after years of trying to chase the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. He is the first player in franchise history to win this award since Emeka Okafor 16 years ago. 

One of the great joys for professional athletes getting their first taste of big money is passing some of it along to family members who have been there every step of the way.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges did that Saturday, gifting his mother a brand new car fo her birthday. 

As you can tell, Bridges' mother was overwhelmed with happiness at the sleek SUV.

Not much else to do here but enjoy the vibes of a touching gesture from son to mother. 

Longtime Charlotte Observer sportswriter Rick Bonnell was found dead in his home Tuesday. He was 63.

Jack Bonnell, Rick's son, confirmed the news to the Observer's Scott Fowler. No foul play is suspected.

"We are all so devastated at the Charlotte Observer but I must report that our beloved colleague Rick Bonnell has suddenly passed away," Fowler wrote on Twitter. "Rick was a Hornets beat-writing legend, a father, a generous colleague. Honestly, I don't know what we are going to do."

The NBA released a statement on Bonnell's death:

The Hornets also released a statement on Bonnell's death, as did Charlotte chairman Michael Jordan:

Bonnell spent more than 33 years at the newspaper and became its first beat writer for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, which began play in the 1988-89 season. He continued to cover the team during its most recent 2020-21 campaign.

"Work was a huge part of his life," Jack Bonnell told Fowler. "He took a lot of pride in what he did. He liked telling stories—in the newspaper, and in life."

He added his father was "a guy who achieved his lifelong dream by covering an NBA team so long and so well."

Bonnell was on vacation following the conclusion of the Hornets season and recently returned from a trip to South Carolina, per Fowler. His son became worried when his father didn't return messages and had a friend check on him Tuesday night. Jack Bonnell said his father likely died from natural causes.

Here's a look at some of the response from the media community following the news:

Along with his work at the Charlotte Observer, Bonnell previously served as the president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball is getting into the world of NFTs. 

Per ESPN's Tim Keown, Ball plans to release a set of 500 non-fungible tokens prior to the announcement of the NBA Rookie of the Year award. 

"As I learn more about blockchain, I realize this is the most powerful and unique way to engage my fans in a way that's special to them individually," Ball said. "I see this as the future for fans and athletes connecting together."

Ball, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings are the three Rookie of the Year finalists. 

Keown noted that if Ball is named the winner, the NFTs will automatically update to include the award and likely increase their value. 

According to Keown, Ball intends to create a lottery for owners that will allow them to "burn" the NFTs "for a chance to win memorabilia such as game-worn shoes."

NBA Top Shot has become one of the fastest-growing items in the crypto collectible world. An NFT featuring LeBron James imitating a dunk by Kobe Bryant sold at auction last month for $387,600. 

Ball is the heavy favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award after a stellar 2020-21 season. The 19-year-old averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game in 51 appearances for the Hornets. The winner will be announced on TNT during the NBA playoffs.

Michael Jordan hasn't come close to finding the same success as an owner as he did during his playing days, leading some to question his style with the Charlotte Hornets.

"Jordan is criticized in league circles for his detached ownership style, and for filling his front office and executive leadership team with people from his personal network—although he is not unique on either point," Marc Stein of the New York Times reported.

Stein noted Jordan spends most of his time away from the team in Florida and didn't help recruit free agents until this offseason's addition of Gordon Hayward.

The Hall of Famer is one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport, winning six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. His 30.1 points per game are the most in the league's history. Even for a younger generation of players, Jordan could be a draw that would help tilt the scales toward his franchise.

Charlotte, however, has struggled to lure top free agents or even capitalize on early draft picks. Kemba Walker is the team's only All-Star since Jordan took over as a majority owner in 2010, and he left for the Boston Celtics in free agency two years ago.

The team has struggled overall in this span, reaching the playoffs just twice in 11 years. Both postseason trips ended in first-round exits.

A promising start to the 2020-21 season ended with five straight losses and then a blowout defeat to the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament.

There is upside on the current roster, which features Hayward, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and Rookie of the Year favorite LaMelo Ball. However, Jordan can seemingly still do more to help the squad get over the hump toward contention in the Eastern Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly picking up the team option on head coach James Borrego's contract for the 2021-22 season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Tuesday that Borrego will return for a fourth season. The Hornets are 95-124 in Borrego's three seasons at the helm, including a 33-39 mark in 2020-21.

Charlotte spent most of the season battling for a playoff spot but scuffled down the stretch amid injuries to Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball. The team lost its last five games of the regular season and was blown out by the Indiana Pacers during the play-in tournament.

“The way we played this season turned a lot of heads around the league and made a lot of people want to come here,” Hayward told reporters at year-end media availability. “We move the ball and get up and down the court. ... So hopefully guys will want to jump on that train.”

A longtime assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Borrego joined the Hornets in 2018 after the team fired Steve Clifford. He posted his best record in 2018-19 (39-43), but the team has not been able to reach the .500 mark.

The Hornets seemingly trust Borrego to continue his strong work in developing Ball, who looks like a budding superstar.

However, it's notable that there appears to be no contract extension in the works. Hornets management clearly feels they want to build on a promising 2020-21 and contend for a playoff spot next season. If Borrego isn't able to get them over the hump, the overwhelming odds are they will install a new coach next offseason.

The Charlotte Hornets could be one of the more attractive destinations for free agents this offseason, according to general manager Mitch Kupchak. 

A lot of that apparently has to do with rookie star LaMelo Ball. 

"I think free agents around the league look at the pace we play, and players want to play that way. I think we have a player’s coach," Kupchak said, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. "And if (free agents) remember why (Ball) is so much fun to play with—his ability to pass—I don’t know why players wouldn’t want to come here to play with him.”

Ball averaged 15.7 points on 43.6 percent shooting (35.2 percent from three) with 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 51 starts for the Hornets this season. That helped elevate Charlotte to the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and a play-in tournament bout,  though they fell to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. 

The No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft missed more than a month this season after fracturing his wrist, but he was able to return to finish this season. 

The 19-year-old has earned respect from players around the league, including LeBron James. 

"I think he’s damn good to be his age," James told reporters after his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Hornets in March. "His speed, his quickness, his ability to make shots at all facets—in the paint, floaters, threes—he has the three tiers already, and he’s only going to get better." 

Ball is currently the betting favorite to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award with -1900 odds via FanDuel (bet $1,900 to win $100). 

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

Must be 21+ and present in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado or Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball will likely be named NBA Rookie of the Year, but his head coach still wants to see the 19-year-old get better before next season. 

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, James Borrego explained that the organization is going to "take some major steps" to get Ball prepared for the 2021-22 campaign. 

Borrego said those steps include "his body, and then working through offense and defense.”

The Hornets' season came to an end on Tuesday with a 144-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament. Ball had just 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting, four assists and four turnovers in the game.

Despite missing out on the NBA playoffs, this season was a massive step forward for the Hornets. They were in postseason contention until their final game and were over .500 as late as April 13. 

Charlotte did all of that despite not having Ball for 21 games from March 22-April 28 because of a broken wrist. His shooting form didn't come back, as he made just 38.4 percent of his field-goal attempts over the final 10 games of the regular season. 

When the injury initially occurred, the expectation was that Ball would likely miss the remainder of the season. 

Ball finished his first year averaging 15.7 points on 43.6 percent shooting, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 51 appearances. 

The Hornets will be able to build their roster around him as they look to challenge for a playoff spot again next season. 

Miles Bridges was quite candid after his Charlotte Hornets lost in blowout fashion to the Indiana Pacers in Tuesday's Eastern Conference play-in tournament game.

"We got our ass whipped today," he said after the 144-117 loss, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. "Nothing else to it... They played like they wanted to be in the playoffs and we didn't."

Bridges did his part and finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. He led his team in scoring and tied Terry Rozier for the most rebounds, so it was difficult to blame him.

Yet Charlotte's defense was abysmal in defeat.

The Pacers poured in 144 points with eight different players in double figures. Domantas Sabonis finished with 21 rebounds on his own, which was closer to the Hornets' total of 36 than Charlotte's total was to Indiana's 54.

The Hornets were a middling 16th in the league in defensive rating, per NBA.com, and picked a poor time to collapse on that end of the floor.

Indiana's road to the playoffs continues, as it will face the loser of Tuesday's game between the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics. The winner of the game between Boston and Washington will be the No. 7 seed in the traditional eight-team bracket, while the winner of the Pacers' next game will be the No. 8 seed.

The Pacers struggled down the stretch of the season and went 9-11 in their final 20 games prior to Tuesday's display of dominance.

To hear Bridges tell it, they simply wanted it more.

Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner had some choice words for any basketball fans who counted out his team in the play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. 

It was actually more of a label: Casual. 

The Pacers rocked the upstart Hornets 144-117 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as Indiana moved one step closer to the first round of the postseason. Indiana will face the loser of Tuesday's second play-in game between the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics to determine who earns the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

All five Pacers starters finished with at least 12 points. Forward Oshae Brissett had a game-high 23 points while wing Doug McDermott posted 21 points with four three-pointers. Yet no player was more dominant on both ends of the floor than Domantas Sabonis, who grabbed 21 rebounds to go with 14 points and nine assists.

That was more than enough to put away the likes of LaMelo Ball, Devonte' Graham and Terry Rozier.

The Hornets will now enter the NBA draft lottery while the Pacers season continues. Turner may not be on the floor with his teammates as he rehabs a toe injury, but the center was named the league's blocks champion on Tuesday after compiling 159 in 47 games. 

On Tuesday, Turner swatted away all the haters as Indiana coasted to victory over Charlotte.