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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The NBA Summer League is back after a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic. 30 teams have taken part in the Las Vegas Summer League this off-season. After four games, the Charlotte Hornets sit at the bottom of the Summer League table with four consecutive losses. However, one player has been running the show for the Hornets in the off-season: LiAngelo Ball.

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LiAngelo Ball is the only Ball brother who is yet to sign an NBA contract. His younger brother, LaMelo invited him to Charlotte Hornets training camp this summer. After being impressed by his progress, the Hornets signed him up for the Summer League. LiAngelo has turned up the heat at the ongoing Summer League, despite his team struggling to find a win.

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2021 Summer League’s emerging star: LiAngelo Ball

Many players have stood out in the ongoing Summer League such as Jalen Green and Cade Cunningham. While Jalen and Cade have helped their teams register multiple wins, LiAngelo Ball’s performance hasn’t ended up on a winning note. Charlotte Hornets have lost all their games so far, but LiAngelo has been impressive for the side and has become a crowd favorite.

His performance against Toronto Raptors proves that he’s determined to get an NBA contract ahead of the 2021-22 season. In one particular sequence of play, he sent the crowd on its feet through a superb three-pointer.

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LiAngelo started the game on the bench and played 17 mins. He scored eight points, which included two three-pointers. His eight points came in a 3-of-8 shooting. Despite his efforts, the Hornets failed to conserve their lead and lost the game by one point. James Bouknight ended up as the scoring leader for the Hornets with 14 points.

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Should Charlotte Hornets sign LiAngelo Ball?

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LiAngelo Ball has averaged 10.5 points per game and 2.5 three-pointers per game in the ongoing Summer League so far. Despite the Hornets losing all their games, Ball has emerged as the crowd favorite in the past four games.

In the game against San Antonio Spurs, LiAngelo hit a buzzer-beater just before half-time. With just 0.6 secs remaining on the clock and the Hornets trailing by four points, Ball hit a tough three-pointer to end the half-time on a high.

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With these impressive performances, he is trying to carve a path to the NBA. The Hornets trusted him and invited him to the Summer League after the training camp. He has made the most of the opportunities he has got so far. But the question remains, will that be enough for him to earn an NBA contract?

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Abhishek Singh

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Abhishek Singh is the NFL Content Lead at EssentiallySports. A Football Management graduate, he brings experience from his previous work in the soccer industry. A passionate fan of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Abhishek firmly believes the team has more championships ahead. Outside of work, he enjoys playing soccer and exploring diverse cuisines as a dedicated food blogger.

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