Getty Image / Jared C. Tilton
The Charlotte Hornets have never really got it going as a franchise. There was hope a few years ago after they made the NBA Play-In Tournament that this young core would be the one that turns the corner for the franchise.
Instead, that young core, including supposed franchise player LaMelo Ball, was seen laughing on the bench in Charlotte during a Knicks’ blowout win
Even worse, they were doing it while the road fans were going off with “Let’s Go Knicks” chants.
LaMelo Ball & teammates laugh on the bench down 25 as his home arena chants “Let’s go Knicks” pic.twitter.com/wngWUT0JQv
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 30, 2024
Yeah, that’s just a terrible, terrible look for LaMelo Ball. He’s played less than half of the team’s games this year, and missed another game. Something must have surely been funny for him to be laughing late in a game they lost 113-92.
The Hornets are now 10-35, a truly dismal record. Rookie second-overall-pick Brandon Miller looks like he’s going to be a pretty good player. But, the core of PJ Washington, Miles Bridges, and Ball just refuse to take the next step and put together any semblance of a good product on the court.
Michael Jordan sold the team last offseason, and he looks like a genius for doing so. Not only do these guys stink, but they don’t seem to even care.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are awesome. They’ve won seven in a row, are 13-2 since acquiring OG Anunoby, and are just a half game back of the Sixers for the third seed in the Eastern Conference at 30-17.