He had already panicked the scorers during the previous match with 35 points! But on the night from Saturday to Sunday, LeMelo Ball shattered his career points record (up to then 38 points). The playmaker for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA, the North American basketball championship, scored 50 points during the match against the Milwaukee Bucks.
A performance which did not prevent the defeat of his team (125-119) – notably due to the performances of the duo Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) and Damian Lillard (31 points) – but which allows the younger of the Ball family to make history.
At 23, he became the third youngest player in history to record 50 points and 10 assists in a game. He is only preceded in this ranking by the stainless and essential LeBron James and by Kevin Porter Jr!
The performance is all the more impressive as LaMelo Ball, number 3 in the 2020 draft but whose progress has been slowed by a glass physique and numerous injuries, had only scored 10 small points during the first period before to catch fire after returning from the locker room with 40 units.
Ball is the fifth player this season to score 50 points or more, after De'Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paolo Banchero.
Note that Frenchman Moussa Diabaté was started for the second time in a row for the Hornets. Although he did not score a single point, he was valuable in defense and in the rebound battle (11 shots after the 16 in the previous match) – with 2 assists and 2 interceptions. His compatriot Tidjane Salaün scored 6 points in 16 minutes.
