LaMelo Ball Draft Class: A Look Back at His Historic NBA Entry in '2K17'

In a shocking turn of events that would forever alter the landscape of professional basketball, LaMelo Ball fell into the hands of the Charlotte Hornets with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. As one of three brothers to don an NBA jersey (older sibling Lonzo and younger brother LiAnglo), much anticipation surrounded this highly-anticipated entry.

Drafted straight out of high school after a stellar prep career at Chino Hills High School, Ball was widely regarded as a generational talent capable of taking the league by storm upon arrival. And indeed he did, quickly solidifying his status as one of the most hyped draft prospects in recent memory.

However, before diving into LaMelo's storied NBA career let us first take a step back and examine how things transpired leading up to this momentous occasion.

In NBA 2K17 (the latest installment within EA Sports' critically acclaimed basketball simulation series), Ball was widely regarded as one of the top prospects available in that year's draft class. Boasting elite attributes across all facets of his game, including exceptional ball-handling skills and pinpoint accuracy from beyond three-point range, many experts predicted he would be selected with the number-one overall pick.

Ultimately however it was not to be for LaMelo as fellow phenom Zion Williamson ended up being taken first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite this minor disappointment Ball still managed to land himself a top-three selection in what proved to be one of most stacked draft classes since 2003's talented crop that included Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Upon entering into professional basketball LaMelo quickly made his presence felt on the court with electrifying performances that left fans and pundits alike in awe. His exceptional passing ability allowed him to immediately establish himself as a primary playmaker for Charlotte while also showcasing flashes of scoring prowess when called upon.

In terms of actual statistics, Ball's rookie campaign saw him post impressive averages across all major categories: 15.7 points per contest on an astonishing shooting percentage from beyond three-point range; 6 assists per game which ranked third among all rookies at the time; and a solid rebounding clip of five boards per tilt.

However perhaps most impressively for LaMelo was his ability to also impact games defensively, with him recording nearly two steals per outing - further cementing his status as one of the league's premier young guards entering into Year Two in teal & blue.

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