Top Rookie Throws Shade at Lakers’ LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night. It’s an interesting game for everyone, including one particular rookie. Things got a little hot these days. Now, this Hornets rookie throws shade at Lakers superstar LeBron James. LaMelo Ball.

Guess what… Ball is not even excited about his first meeting with LeBron.

“I mean, nah,” the rookie said when asked if he was excited to play against the king of basketball. “I grew up a little different. Not really on basketball like that. So, not really.”

The rookie throws shade at LeBron James for no reason

So, Ball said he doesn’t look up to the four-time NBA champion like most players. His role model is his father, LaVar, and you all know who that is.

“It was my Pops,” Ball responded when asked if he had a role model. “So, I was big on family and stuff like that. Not really with the basketball.”

Ball and LeBron have great seasons. The Lakers superstar is averaging 25.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8 assists. He is having a MVP season. Let’s not forget that he is 36.

#Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball asked if he'll feel some type of way sharing a court with LeBron this week

LaMelo: "I mean nah…I grew up a little different."#nba #lakers @wcnc pic.twitter.com/028DFQpZp7

— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) March 17, 2021

Ball can easily win the Rookie of the Year award. The Hornetts selected him with the No.3 overall pick. He leads all rookies in points with 15.8. He is also leading rookies in assists (6.3), rebounds (6.0), and steals (1.6) per game.

The Ball family won’t watch the rookie at Staples Center. LA won’t have any fans in attendance.

“Obviously you want your family to come see you, and then growing up, they always watched me, so it would kind of be like going in the past,” Ball said. “I know my people. They’ll be cool watching it on TV, too. We really like chilling at the house, more with the comfortable stuff other than being out. Like, I honestly would rather watch a game at home, chilling, than going to one.”

LeBron and LaVar have a history, right? It all started with the war of words.

“You got LeBron—it’s going to be hard for his kids because they are going to look at them like, ‘You got to be just like your dad,’” Ball said in 2017. “And after a while, that pressure starts sitting on you like, ‘Why do I got to be just like him? What can’t I just be me?’ And then they are going to be like, ‘Aw, you’re soft. You’re not that good.’ Because the expectation is very, very high.”

LeBron warned him.

“Keep my kids’ name out of your mouth; keep my family out of your mouth,” he told ESPN. “This is dad to dad. It’s a problem now.”