LaMelo Ball full triple double vs Celtics highlights
The Charlotte Hornets have a complicated franchise history, one of the most-tangled in all of sports. In 1988, the Hornets were an expansion team that soon became an annual playoff contender. Through much of its initial existence, the Hornets either made the playoffs, or competed for a spot. Issues with ownership led to the team relocating to New Orleans and an expansion team being awarded. The expansion team, the Bobcats, struggled.
Contrary to popular belief, the Bobcats were never a horrible team. Even during its expansion season, the Bobcats didn’t own the NBA’s worst record. The Bobcats didn’t bottom out until 2012, when they owned the NBA’s worst record of all-time. Regardless, the Bobcats became a fringe playoff team by their third year, finally making it in 2010. In 2011, they missed by four games, and then were back in by 2014. That summer, they rebranded into the Hornets, adopting the 1988-2002 history, merging with the Bobcats. It took on the two playoff appearances in ten years, making the franchise known for futility.
Kemba Walker was the closest the Hornets had to a star, in recent years. He got them to the playoffs in 2014 and 2016, narrowly missing every following year. In 2019, he’d leave for the Celtics, so the Hornets made a sign-and-trade for Terry Rozier, which seemed terrible, at the time. After an unexpected explosion from Devote Graham, the Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball, who formed a core with Rozier and Miles Bridges, the team’s current scoring leader. After making last year’s play-in, the Hornets hold the East’s seventh spot.
Tonight, in Boston, the Hornets got their first primetime TV win of the season, beating the Celtics on ESPN. For his efforts, LaMelo Ball got a triple double.
LaMelo Ball full triple double vs Celtics highlights
