LaMelo Ball facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
LaMelo Ball

Ball in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
No. 1 – Charlotte Hornets
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(2001-08-22) August 22, 2001 (age 23) Anaheim, California, U.S.
High school	Chino Hills (Chino Hills, California) SPIRE Academy (Geneva, Ohio)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Pro career	2018–present
League	NBA
Career history
2018	Prienai
2018	Los Angeles Ballers
2019–2020	Illawarra Hawks
2020–present	Charlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star (2022) NBA Rookie of the Year (2021) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2021) NBL Rookie of the Year (2020) JBA champion (2018) JBA All-Star (2018)

LaMelo LaFrance Ball (born August 22, 2001) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Hornets picked him third overall in the 2020 NBA draft.

LaMelo was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021. The next season, in 2022, he was chosen as an NBA All-Star. He started his high school career at Chino Hills High School in California. There, he won a state championship as a freshman with his older brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo.

Before his junior year, LaMelo left Chino Hills. He then signed with a professional team in Lithuania called Prienai. In 2018, he played in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league started by his father. After that, he returned to high school for his senior year at SPIRE Academy in Ohio.

LaMelo was a top recruit for college basketball. He had planned to go to UCLA. However, he decided to play professionally in Australia instead. He joined the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL in 2019. His great performance there helped him become a top pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

LaMelo and his brothers have been well-known since their high school days. His father, LaVar, also became a famous media personality. LaMelo has his own signature shoe from his father's company, Big Baller Brand. He also appears on his family's reality show, Ball in the Family. His older brother Lonzo Ball plays for the Chicago Bulls.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

LaMelo Ball was born in Anaheim, California. His parents, LaVar and Tina Ball, both played college basketball.

His father, LaVar, started training LaMelo in basketball when he was very young. By age four, LaMelo was playing with his older brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo. They often played against much older kids. When he was five, he also played flag football with his brothers. But basketball remained his main focus.

In 2013, when LaMelo was in seventh grade, he joined his brothers on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team. This team, called Big Ballers VXT, was for players 17 and under. His parents started and coached the team. They played in local competitions instead of the bigger AAU circuits.

High School Basketball Journey

Freshman Year Success (2015–2016)

LaMelo began his high school basketball career at Chino Hills High School in California. He played alongside his brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo, and his cousin, Andre Ball. In his very first game, LaMelo scored 27 points as a starter.

On March 5, 2016, he scored 26 points in a big win against Sierra Canyon School. This victory helped his team win the CIF Southern Section Open Division title. Later that month, LaMelo helped Chino Hills win the CIF Open Division state championship. He scored 14 points in the final game against De La Salle High School.

Chino Hills finished the season with a perfect 35–0 record. They were even called the "mythical national champions." LaMelo averaged 16.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. He also shared the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year award with his teammate, Onyeka Okongwu.

Sophomore Year Highlights (2016–2017)

On December 26, 2016, LaMelo made national news. He sank a half-court shot just two seconds into a game. On February 4, 2017, Chino Hills lost a high school game for the first time. LaMelo scored 36 points, but Oak Hill Academy ended their 60-game winning streak.

In his next game, on February 7, LaMelo scored an amazing 92 points in a win over Los Osos High School. This was the second-highest single-game score in California high school history. He finished the season averaging 26.7 points and nearly 10 assists per game. He earned first-team recognition as a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American.

On October 2, 2017, before his junior season, LaMelo left Chino Hills. His father decided to homeschool him due to disagreements with the new coach and school. On December 7, LaMelo signed with an agent, Harrison Gaines. This meant he would play professionally overseas with his brother LiAngelo. This decision also meant he would not play college basketball.

Senior Year at SPIRE Academy (2018–2019)

Ball with SPIRE Academy at the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational in January 2019

On November 5, 2018, LaMelo joined SPIRE Institute and Academy. This is a prep school in Geneva, Ohio. He played under coach Jermaine Jackson. SPIRE played outside the rules of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. This allowed LaMelo to play without issues about his amateur status.

Some top high school teams canceled games against SPIRE. This was because LaMelo's professional experience could affect their players' eligibility. His team was also removed from the Hoophall Classic tournament. This happened because event organizers did not meet a financial request from a Ball family associate.

On November 10, 2018, LaMelo played his first game for SPIRE. He had 20 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds in a 96–84 win. LaMelo helped his team reach the final and was named the season's MVP. However, he was not allowed to play in the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game. This was because of his earlier professional experience.

College Recruiting and Decisions

LaMelo first said he would play college basketball for UCLA when he was just 13. He was the third of his brothers to commit to the school. He was also recruited by other schools like Virginia and Washington State. LaMelo said UCLA was his "dream school."

During his sophomore year, he became a top recruit for the 2019 class. Most recruiting experts saw him as a five-star recruit. They also considered him one of the best point guards in his class. Even after playing professionally, he remained a five-star recruit when he returned to high school in 2018.

In 2017, his family's company, Big Baller Brand, released his signature shoe, the Melo Ball 1. This caused concerns about his eligibility for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). His father did not worry about these concerns. LaMelo's professional experience and signing with an agent further complicated his NCAA eligibility.

Despite these issues, LaMelo showed interest in playing college basketball when he returned to high school. But in the following months, he looked at other options. These included prep school, the NBA G League, and professional leagues in Australia and China.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
LaMelo Ball PG	Chino Hills, CA	SPIRE Academy (OH)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	—
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 93
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: —  247Sports: 26  ESPN: 21
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

Professional Basketball Career

Playing in Lithuania (2018)

Ball with Prienai at a London exhibition game in April 2018

On December 11, 2017, LaMelo signed with Prienai in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). His brother, LiAngelo, also signed with the team. LaMelo became the youngest American to sign a professional basketball contract. Many American sports news outlets reported on the brothers' move to Lithuania.

Prienai stopped playing in the Baltic Basketball League when they arrived. Instead, they played in exhibition games sponsored by Big Baller Brand. On January 13, 2018, LaMelo made his professional debut. He did not score any points in five minutes against Lietkabelis. On February 4, he scored a season-high 19 points. He also made four three-pointers and had six assists in a loss to Žalgiris.

Later that month, he hurt his leg in an exhibition game. This injury kept him out for a month. On April 25, LaMelo and his family left Prienai. His father was unhappy with the team's coach, partly because LaMelo was not getting enough playing time. LaMelo finished the LKL season averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. He played 12.8 minutes per game.

Playing in the JBA (2018)

On May 4, 2018, LaMelo signed with the Los Angeles Ballers. This team was part of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). His father created this new league as an option instead of college basketball. LaMelo was called the league's "marquee player."

In his first game on June 21, he achieved a triple-double. He scored 40 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and made 10 assists. He also had three steals in a 134–124 win against the New York Ballers. Over eight regular season games, LaMelo averaged a triple-double. He had 39.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game. He was also chosen for the All-Star Game.

In the playoff semifinals against the New York Ballers, he scored a season-high 55 points. He also had 16 rebounds and seven assists. He led the Los Angeles Ballers to a JBA championship win over the Seattle Ballers. After the season, LaMelo was picked for the league's special team, JBA USA. This team went on an international tour to play against European teams. On October 31, during a game against Dzūkija, he was ejected for slapping an opposing player. On November 5, he left the JBA tour to go back to high school in the United States.

Time with the Illawarra Hawks (2019–2020)

Ball with the Illawarra Hawks in October 2019

On June 17, 2019, LaMelo signed a two-year contract with the Illawarra Hawks. This team is part of the Australian-based National Basketball League (NBL). His contract included options to leave for the NBA. He joined the Hawks through the NBL Next Stars program. This program helps prepare players for the NBA draft.

In August 2019, LaMelo played for No Shnacks at the Drew League. He was named Leader of the New School, an award for the league's best rookie. For the NBL season, he moved to Australia with his former SPIRE Institute coach, Jermaine Jackson. Jackson became his manager and helped him settle in. In late September, he played well at the NBL Blitz, a pre-season tournament. He had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in a pre-season win over the Perth Wildcats.

On October 6, in his first regular season game, LaMelo had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. This was in a loss to the Brisbane Bullets. He took on a bigger role after a star point guard, Aaron Brooks, got injured on October 27. On November 25, LaMelo had a season-high 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. This was in an overtime win against the Cairns Taipans. He became the youngest NBL player to get a triple-double.

In his next game, LaMelo got another triple-double. He had 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. He became the fourth player in NBL history to get back-to-back triple-doubles. On December 8, it was announced that he would miss about four weeks of games. He had bruised his foot in practice.

On January 16, 2020, LaMelo decided to sit out for the rest of the season. He left the Hawks on January 28 to go back to the United States. He wanted to prepare for the 2020 NBA draft. In 12 NBL games, LaMelo averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. At the end of the season, he was named NBL Rookie of the Year. Before playing in the NBL, some thought he might not even be drafted into the NBA. But his time with the Hawks helped him become a top 3 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Charlotte Hornets (2020–Present)

Rookie of the Year Season (2020–2021)

LaMelo Ball was picked third overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 NBA draft on November 18, 2020. He and his brother Lonzo became the first brothers to both be drafted in the top 3 of the NBA draft. LaMelo started his first regular season games coming off the bench. He made his debut on December 23, 2020. He did not score any points but had one rebound, three assists, and two steals in 16 minutes.

On January 8, 2021, LaMelo played against his brother Lonzo for the first time in an NBA game. LaMelo helped the Hornets come back from 18 points down to win 118–110. He almost got a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. On January 9, at 19 years and 140 days old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to get a triple-double. He had 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 113–105 win against the Atlanta Hawks. This record was later broken by Josh Giddey.

For his great play in December and January, LaMelo was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in his first 21 NBA games. On February 1, LaMelo made his first start in a 129–121 win over the Miami Heat. He finished that game with 14 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. On February 5, LaMelo scored a career-high 34 points. He also had eight assists, four rebounds, two steals, and one block in a loss to the Utah Jazz. He became the youngest player in Hornets history to score 30 points in a game.

He was named Rookie of the Month again for February. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 13 games. On March 21, LaMelo broke a bone in his right wrist in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was out of action for a while. On April 19, he was allowed to start playing basketball again. On May 1, LaMelo returned from his injury. He had 11 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in a 107–94 win against the Detroit Pistons. After the season, LaMelo was named the 2020–21 NBA Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen for the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

First All-Star Selection (2021–2022)

In the Hornets' first game of the 2021–22 season, LaMelo matched his career-high of seven three-pointers. He also scored 31 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made seven assists. This was in a 123–122 win over the Indiana Pacers. On November 17, LaMelo had 11 points and a career-high 14 assists in a 97–87 win over the Washington Wizards. On December 1, LaMelo scored a career-high 36 points. He also had nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals in a close 127–125 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

On February 2, 2022, LaMelo scored another career-high of 38 points. He also had nine assists and five rebounds in a 113–107 loss to the Boston Celtics. On February 7, LaMelo was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. He was an injury replacement for Kevin Durant.

Season-Ending Injury (2022–2023)

Before the 2022–23 NBA season, LaMelo changed his jersey number from 2 to 1. On February 13, 2023, LaMelo scored 30 points, had six rebounds, and a career-high 15 assists. This was in a 144–138 win over the Atlanta Hawks. He became the first player in Hornets history to have at least 30 points, five rebounds, and 15 assists in a game.

On February 16, LaMelo had 28 points, 10 assists, and a season-high 12 rebounds. This was in a 120–110 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in his career. Only LeBron James achieved this at a younger age.

On February 27, during a 117–106 win over the Detroit Pistons, LaMelo suffered a right ankle injury. After the game, the Hornets announced that he had fractured his ankle. He was ruled out for an unknown period. On March 1, LaMelo had surgery for his injury and was out for the rest of the season.

Contract Extension (2023–2024)

On July 6, 2023, LaMelo signed a contract extension with the Hornets. On November 5, LaMelo achieved a triple-double. He had 30 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 124–118 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Career High in Scoring (2024–2025)

On October 23, 2024, in the Hornets' first game of the season, LaMelo scored 34 points. He also had eight rebounds and 11 assists in a 110–105 win over the Houston Rockets. He became the first player in Hornets history to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in a season-opening game.

On November 23, LaMelo scored a career-high 50 points. He also had five rebounds and 10 assists in a 125–119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He became the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points. In his very next game against the Orlando Magic, LaMelo scored 44 points in a 95–84 loss.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

Play-in Games

NBL (Australia)

LKL (Lithuania)

JBA (United States)

Regular Season

Playoffs

Personal Life and Family

Ball (right) with his father LaVar and brother LiAngelo after playing in a London exhibition game for Prienai in April 2018

LaMelo is the youngest son of LaVar and Tina Ball. Both of his parents were college basketball players. LaVar, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, played for Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles. Tina, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, also played for Cal State Los Angeles.

LaVar later played professional football as a tight end. He played for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football. In 2017, LaVar became a well-known sports media personality. LaMelo's cousin, Andre, plays college basketball for Pepperdine.

Since high school, LaMelo has gained a lot of attention from sports news. He also has a large following on social media. By 2017, many people called him a celebrity. LaMelo is part of the Facebook Watch reality show Ball in the Family. This show started in August 2017 and shows the lives of his family members.

On August 31, 2017, Big Baller Brand released a signature shoe for LaMelo. The company was started by his family in 2016. The shoe was called the Melo Ball 1 (MB1). He became the youngest athlete to ever have his own signature shoe.

LaMelo signed with Puma in 2021. In November 2024, LaMelo was fined $100,000 by the NBA. This happened after he used inappropriate language in a post-game interview. The NBA said his language was "offensive and derogatory."

Images for kids

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  Ball in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game

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  Ball with SPIRE Academy at the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational in January 2019

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  Ball with Prienai at a London exhibition game in April 2018

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  Ball with the Illawarra Hawks in October 2019

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  Ball (right) with his father LaVar and brother LiAngelo after playing in a London exhibition game for Prienai in April 2018

See also

In Spanish: LaMelo Ball para niños