LaMelo Ball

It’s sometimes argued that the best movies are those capable of using carefully-designed cliffhangers to keep the audience guessing; during November 6, 2024’s back-and-forth tilt, LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets put that plot concept into action. Poised to be among the night’s defining heroes given his 12-shot final quarter, Charlotte’s fan favorite tests his crunchtime calm, immediately punishing Isaiah Stewart’s pick-and-roll switch by pumping his brakes with a behind-the-back dribble. Unbalanced, but also unbothered, Ball sinks a go-ahead trifecta, earning a well-deserved applause and the infamous question — “How do you do?” — immediately thereafter. The thrilling late-game stretch saw Ball moonlight between game-clincher and something oh-so-close, as he traded makes with misses before channeling a full-on takeover when it counted. Too difficult to contain for the much-improved Detroit Pistons, Ball’s night included 25 points (15 in the fourth), six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers.