On December 18, the Atlanta Hawks stormed into Charlotte looking to get back on track, but what unfolded was more than just a regular-season battle-it was a full-circle moment nearly a decade in the making.
After falling behind by as many as 24 points, the Hawks clawed their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to just one with under three minutes to play. The momentum had clearly shifted, and it looked like Atlanta might pull off an improbable comeback. But then LaMelo Ball happened.
With 30 seconds left and the shot clock winding down, Ball found himself isolated at the top of the arc. Guarding him?
Onyeka Okongwu-his old high school teammate from those legendary Chino Hills days. Ball took a step back from 30 feet and buried the dagger.
Just like that, Charlotte went up 129-123 and held on for a 133-126 win. It wasn’t just a clutch shot-it was a statement, and maybe even a little poetic.
But what made that moment hit even harder wasn’t just the shot-it was the history behind it.
Flash back to 2015. Chino Hills High School was the epicenter of high school basketball, and LaMelo Ball, still a freshman, was already turning heads alongside his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo.
The Ball brothers were the face of a team that ran opponents out of the gym with relentless pace, deep threes, and highlight-reel plays. But behind all that flash was the foundation-guys like Onyeka Okongwu, who anchored the defense, filled the lanes, and made that chaos work.
Okongwu wasn’t the viral sensation. He didn’t have the mixtapes or the sneaker deals.
But he was absolutely essential to that team’s dominance. And while the Ball brothers were grabbing headlines, Okongwu was quietly building a resume that would eventually make him a top-10 NBA draft pick.
Still, LaMelo never lacked confidence-even back then. In a resurfaced clip from their high school days, a young LaMelo, sitting in a classroom interview, playfully jabbed at Okongwu: “I took O’s soul.”
At the time, it was just a freshman talking trash to a teammate. But now?
It feels like a prophecy.
Fast forward to 2025, and both players have carved out their own NBA paths-very different, but equally impressive.
LaMelo's journey was anything but conventional. He bypassed college entirely, bouncing from Lithuania to Australia, putting in work in pro leagues before the NBA came calling.
Despite the unorthodox route-and more than a few bumps along the way-his talent was undeniable. He went top-three in the draft and wasted no time making his presence felt, winning Rookie of the Year in 2020 and quickly becoming the face of the Hornets.
Okongwu, on the other hand, took the more traditional route. A five-star recruit out of high school, he spent a year at USC before being selected sixth overall in the same draft class as Ball. His rise was more gradual, more under-the-radar-but by 2025, he had become one of Atlanta’s most reliable starters, a defensive anchor with a growing offensive game to match.
Now, nearly ten years after that playful jab in a high school classroom, Ball hit a cold-blooded stepback three over Okongwu in crunch time. That’s not just a highlight-it’s a full-circle moment that basketball rarely delivers with such cinematic timing.
And while Ball may have gotten the last laugh-for now-the story isn’t over. Atlanta hosts Charlotte again on February 7. Another chance for Okongwu to flip the script, to return the favor, and maybe even reclaim a little piece of that soul LaMelo joked about all those years ago.
One thing’s for sure: this isn’t just another regular-season matchup anymore. It’s a rivalry years in the making, born in high school gyms and now playing out under NBA lights. And we’ll all be watching when chapter two tips off in February.