LaMelo Ball has announced himself to the NBA in wonderful fashion. Considering there was no NBA Summer League this season, rookies did not get a chance to ease themselves into the NBA lifestyle. Considering they have been in training camp for under two weeks, there is a lot of learning still to be done.

Ball has shown that his game may be naturally effortless. While the box score after his debut against the Toronto Raptors seemed empty, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Ball was scoreless in his pre-season debut, raising valid concerns about his style. However, what LaMelo did with his distribution is shocking.

Ball was trying some of the most audacious passes a rookie could employ in a game like this. No-look behind-the-backs, bounce passes, outlet passes- you name it, LaMelo tried to use every single one of them. Along with that, he hustled hard during the game, bringing down 10 rebounds.

But what does this performance indicate for LaMelo’s long-term future in this league? Did he prove he deserved to be a top lottery pick?

LaMelo Ball: Trending in the right direction?

Not scoring in a game is rarely excusable. However, LaMelo Ball is just a rookie and showed that he has a lot of potential. His scoring was one of the few things questioned about his play, as LaMelo isn’t an efficient shooter. He missed all his field goal attempts. However, the story was his passing.

Even if he ended up with just four assists, this proves that Ball has a cerebral understanding of the court. Both he and elder brother Lonzo have always excelled with their court-vision. However, LaMelo seems to be a more dynamic player and could genuinely become a franchise cornerstone in Charlotte.

Entertaining facilitators aren’t coming in the modern NBA. However, as the league becomes more guard-oriented, LaMelo’s skill-set will make him a nightmare to guard. If he can polish his game shooting and attacking the basket, he will be a problem for everyone for a very long time.