The Charlotte Hornets are starting to look like a team finding its rhythm - and that rhythm flows through LaMelo Ball.
Thursday night’s 123-121 win over the Dallas Mavericks wasn’t just another notch in the win column - it was a gritty, back-and-forth battle that showed how far this young Hornets squad has come. And while the spotlight may have shifted momentarily to rookie Kon Knueppel’s late-game heroics, make no mistake: this team still moves to the beat of LaMelo’s drum.
Ball, as usual, played the role of floor general with flair. He dished out nine assists in the win, and in doing so, crossed the 2,000-assist mark for his career - a significant milestone that puts him in elite company.
According to the Hornets, Ball is now one of just five players in NBA history to record at least 5,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, and 2,000 assists within their first 300 career games. The names on that list?
Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazier - and now, LaMelo Ball.
That’s not just statistical padding - that’s all-time company.
And the Hornets are feeding off that energy. They’ve now won five straight, and this one was different.
Unlike their recent blowout victories, this was a slugfest - a game where every possession mattered, and every mistake could swing the outcome. Cooper Flagg made sure of that.
The Mavericks’ young phenom exploded for 49 points, keeping Dallas in it until the final buzzer. But the Hornets didn’t flinch.
They countered Flagg’s brilliance with balance. All five starters hit double digits, showing a level of offensive cohesion that’s becoming a trademark of this current stretch.
Knueppel led the charge with a career-high 34 points, including the clutch plays down the stretch that sealed the win. The rookie didn’t just rise to the moment - he owned it.
Ball added 22 points to go with his nine assists, continuing to orchestrate the offense with a mix of creativity and control. Brandon Miller chipped in 23 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth that gave Charlotte the lead for good. It was the kind of shot that doesn’t just win games - it builds belief.
Miles Bridges added 17 points, and Moussa Diabate contributed 10, rounding out a starting five that’s clicking at just the right time. This wasn’t a one-man show - it was a team win, driven by chemistry, confidence, and a growing sense of identity.
And that identity? It’s starting to look a lot like LaMelo Ball - joyful, dynamic, and unafraid to take chances.
When he’s healthy and locked in, the Hornets play with a freedom and fluidity that’s hard to match. There’s still work to be done, and the Eastern Conference won’t make it easy, but right now, Charlotte looks like a team that’s figuring out who they are - and enjoying the ride along the way.