LaVar Ball credited for LaMelo’s rise with Hornets

Say what you want about LaVar Ball. But when it comes to LaMelo Ball, the results are hard to ignore.

The Hornets guard is putting together perhaps his most impactful seasons yet, and as noted by Sporting News, much of that foundation traces back to how he was raised and developed. 

“Of course, we’re having fun… I feel like I was born for moments like this. I’ve been hoopin’ my whole life. It was second nature, for real. I feel like my pops got me right for these moments right here, so I just come and do what I love,” LaMelo said in his post-game interview with NBA TV after beating the Knicks on Thursday.

That part shouldn’t come as a surprise. LaVar has been saying it for years.

Train them young. Let them play free. Build confidence early.

It was unconventional. Loud. Sometimes over the top. But it worked.

LaMelo was playing against older competition as a kid, skipped the traditional college route, and still arrived in the NBA as a top-three pick.

Now, he’s evolving.

Still flashy. Still creative. But more controlled. More efficient. More… winning.

And that’s where the conversation shifts a little.

Because for all the noise that’s followed the Ball family over the years, there’s always been a method behind it. LaVar didn’t just promote his sons. He built them a system, one that emphasized pace, confidence, and instinct.

You can see it now. The reads. The tempo. The willingness to take over when needed.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

So yeah, LaVar Ball is getting some credit again.

Only this time, it feels a little less like hype… and a little more like reality.