LaMelo Ball is absurdly gifted. Till he performs on — not to mention leads — something however a foul workforce, we will have limitless debates about whether or not he is a real, substantive, profitable NBA participant. However there isn’t any debating his expertise. He might be, and sometimes is, breathtaking. 

There may be completely nothing Ball cannot do with the basketball in his arms, and on Saturday night time he did one thing he has by no means executed in an NBA recreation by scoring 50 factors in a 119-112 loss to the Bucks. Ball required 38 photographs, together with 17 3-point makes an attempt, in 40 minutes to hit the half-century mark, however hey, a 50-piece is a 50-piece.

Ball solely had 10 factors and halftime earlier than exploding for 22 within the third quarter and 18 within the fourth as he tried to rally the Hornets again. He acquired them inside 5 along with his remaining bucket with 42 seconds to play, and Charlotte really lower the deficit to 2 on a Brandon Miller 3-pointer (Miller was unbelievable once more with 32 factors and 11 rebounds) with 15 seconds to go, however the Bucks had been in a position to shut out the win on the free throw line. 

A pair notes on Ball’s large night time:

• Ball and Miller are actually the second-youngest duo to every rating no less than 30 factors in again to again video games. Solely Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did it at a youthful mixed age. 

• Ball joins Kemba Walker as thew solely two gamers in Hornets historical past with a 50-point recreation, although each of Walker’s efforts got here in video games that went to extra time.

However this is essentially the most stunning variety of all: Ball’s earlier profession excessive was 38 factors. That may be a stunningly low quantity for a scorer as electrical as Ball who has seemingly had so many huge video games. When my editor put the word in, I needed to verify it 3 times to make certain. It is true. Till Saturday, Ball had by no means scored greater than 38 factors in an NBA recreation. Guys rating 38 of their sleep these days. 

The primary time Ball scored 38 was in February of 2022 in a loss at Boston, and the second time was lower than two weeks in the past in an extra time loss at Philadelphia. Ball is completely cooking this season at 30.2 factors per recreation, the very best mark for any guard and behind solely Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis for the league’s total scoring lead. He additionally leads the league with 73 3-pointers made.

Now he has a 50-point recreation so as to add to his listing of accolades.