LaMelo Ball Says Trade Talk ‘False,’ Reaffirms Commitment to Hornets
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball on Friday dismissed a report claiming he would consider leaving the franchise, insisting the speculation did not originate with him.
“It didn’t come from me, so it’s false info,” Ball told reporters after using a clown emoji on social media to address the story. “I really don’t like commenting on stuff, but it got too big. They were making headlines… I didn’t want it to keep going on.”
Head coach Charles Lee welcomed the clarification. “I’m glad to hear what he had to say because I would echo a lot of the same things,” Lee said, adding that his communication with Ball and president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson “is really hot.” According to Lee, Ball regularly expresses a desire to build a winner in Charlotte and often talks about his affection for the city and its fans.
Injuries have limited the 22-year-old to 36, 22 and 47 games over the past three seasons. The Hornets have struggled in his absence, finishing 19-63 last season and starting the current campaign 4-11. When Ball has played this year, the team owns a plus-4.2 net rating across 282 minutes.
Even with the slow start, Ball remains upbeat. “We are in some downs right now, but we are definitely going to go up,” he said. “I’m still confident in this whole group and everybody here.”
Source: Hoops Wire
