Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was named the NBA’s 2020-2021 Rookie of the Year, the NBA announced on Wednesday.
Ball, who received 84 out of 99 first-first place votes, beat out Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards in second and Sacramento Kings’ Tyrese Haliburton in third.
The 19-year-old averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season, and shot 43.6 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from the 3-point range.
Ball, who skipped college to play professionally, is known for his court vision and passing, regularly connecting with Miles Bridges for alley-oops and long-range assists.
Ball now joins Larry Johnson and Emeka Okafor, who won the award for the Hornets in 1992 and 2005, respectively. Other recent winners of the award include Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant in 2020, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Donkic in 2019, and Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons in 2018.
Ball and his brother Lonzo Ball are the first brothers in NBA history to have been selected among the top three picks. Lonzo was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 and now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.
