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Toronto Raptors v Charlotte Hornets

Source: Jared C. Tilton / Getty

Each season comes with new expectations and this year those expectations are higher than Hornet fans are used to.  Can rookie Lamelo Ball become the biggest sports star in the city?

The Charlotte Hornets haven’t had a lot of star power lately.  Sure, Kemba Walker was an all-star and Devonte Graham made a nice push last year, but all-in-all Buzz City hasn’t been well represented in the elite exhibition.

Only 4 players in the 2000’s have made the All-Stars, Eddie Jones (2000), Baron Davis (2002), Gearld Wallace (2010) and Kemba in his last 3 years here (2017-19).  Taking it even further down the “achievements not yet earned” road, only 2 players have ever earned Rookie Of The Year while playing in Charlotte, Emeka Okafor in 2005 and Larry Johnson back in the day in 1992.

Ball was selected with the 3rd pick in the NBA draft and with that high draft position comes that high expectations. Ball has shown some flashes of brilliance in the early goings of preseason, but it remains to be seen if he can be the face of the Hornets franchise.

He just bought Cam Newtons old condo, maybe he can take over Cam’s place as the premiere athlete in the city.

Hornets play-by-play announcer Sam Farber joined The Mac Attack and gave his perspective of the rookie.

“He has definite star potential and it’s a natural thing about him, some people just have that it-factor.  When we have a full building, I think we are going to see a ton of #2 jerseys and kids mimicking his hair cut, he has the it-factor that Charlotte has been lacking for awhile.”

More Hornets content:

Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors Preseason Highlights

Lamelo Ball Shows Off His Iced Out Grillz [Video]

Does Charlotte Have A New Star In Town?  was originally published on wfnz.com