Lakers head coach Frank Vogel oversees one of the league’s best passers in LeBron James on a daily basis, which should give more credence to the high praise he delivered to LaMelo Ball on Thursday.
Ahead of the Hornets’ game against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Vogel talked about the Hornets’ improvements as a team, giving credit to both Ball and Gordon Hayward.
“I think he’s definitely a big part of it, for sure,” Vogel said of Ball. “When you have somebody that sees the floor and is such a willing passer, everybody else on the floor feels involved and gets activated, so to speak. I think that, that definitely has been a big part of it and I definitely would give a lot of credit to Gordon Hayward, that signing, because Gordon has shown that he can be a guy that scores 40 on some nights, but is another guy, like LaMelo, who’s a very willing passer and is a ‘make the right play’ type of player.
“So, you have two guys out there that playing team basketball, everybody kind of falls in line with that and feels involved and I think that’s what you’re seeing with the Hornets this year with their offense.”
Ball and Hayward were the key additions to the Hornets and have been vital in Charlotte’s season. One of the most common players Ball has shared the court with this season is Hayward with the two playing 666 minutes together. With Ball and Hayward on the court, the Hornets assist ratio and assist percentage both rise relative to their team averages on the season.
Vogel, who is in his 10th season as a head coach and 18th season on the sidelines, was also asked if Ball’s passing reminded him of any former player. While he couldn’t pick a name, he did further compliment Ball’s passing.
“It’s tough to say,” Vogel said. “Guys come in a league each year and no one’s coming to mind. But you know, he’s just a dynamic passer. And that’s what I really want to compare him to. His ability to get guys involved is a big part of their turnaround this year.”
