Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Basketball

LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard in the NBA.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

LaMelo Ball is an American professional basketball point guard for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. A former third overall draft pick, he won Rookie of the Year in 2021 and became an All-Star in 2022.

Key details

Born August 22, 2001, in Anaheim, California, Ball stands 6 ft 7 in and weighs 180 lb. He played high school basketball at Chino Hills and SPIRE Academy before turning pro in Lithuania (BC Prienai) and Australia (Illawarra Hawks). The Hornets selected him third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

What it is

Ball is known for combining scoring and playmaking as a guard. He made the NBA All-Star Game in 2022—one of the youngest players ever—and reached 1,000 career assists in January 2023. His brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball also play professional basketball.

Why it matters for Canada

For Canadian basketball fans, Ball's career is followed through NBA coverage, including Hornets matchups against the Toronto Raptors. He is one of the league's prominent young guards, drawing attention alongside Canadian stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In short

  • Drafted 3rd overall by Charlotte in 2020, won Rookie of the Year in 2021.
  • Made 2022 All-Star Game; reached 1,000 career assists in 2023.
  • Played pro in Lithuania and Australia before the NBA.
  • Brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo are also basketball players.
Canadian angle

LaMelo Ball has significant relevance for Canadian basketball audiences through NBA coverage, Hornets games against the Toronto Raptors, and his visibility as one of the league's prominent young guards.

Quick questions

Who is LaMelo Ball?
He is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
When was LaMelo Ball born?
He was born on August 22, 2001.
What major award has LaMelo Ball won?
He won NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2020–21 season.

Sources

  1. NBA.com — https://www.nba.com/player/1630163/lamelo-ball/bio
    Supports: Birthdate, height, weight, nationality, draft position, team, career summary, Rookie of the Year, All-Star selection, pre-NBA teams, education, family background.
  2. NBA.com — https://www.nba.com/player/1630163/lamelo-ball
    Supports: Height, weight, age, birthdate, draft information, team, and position.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nba/player/bio/_/id/4432816/lamelo-ball
    Supports: Team, position, height/weight, birthdate, draft info, and active status.
  4. Basketball-Reference — https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/ballla01.html
    Supports: Birthplace, birthdate, height, weight, draft position, position, and schooling.