LaMelo turns heads on and off the court

The Charlotte Hornets guard sported a winter balaclava and the watercolor summer collection from Louis Vuitton ahead of their Jan. 21 game vs. Oklahoma City at Spectrum Center.

• “Leave it to Charlotte athletes to love a good accessory,” Hanks told me. “In the NFL, we had Cam and his babushka scarves; in the NBA we have LaMelo and the winter balaclava.”
• The balaclava during the winter helps with warmth, but it also serves as a face covering, Hanks added. It’s a global trend for protection and fashion.

Hanks, who owns SHOWROOM and has styled plenty of professional athletes, including  Panthers and NASCAR drivers, described Ball’s Louis Vuitton choices as “bright and young.”

• “It just goes back to LaMelo having fun in finding his fashion footing, and a nice nod to the late LV designer Virgil Abloh.”

What he got right: Hanks credited the look as “fun casual with the trend of the moment.”

Where he can improve: “I’d love to see him mix a little more polished swag off the court,” Hanks said.

Flashback: Ball wowed fans on and off the court in Charlotte’s season opener with a neon suit from his lifestyle fashion brand, LaFrancé, which Hanks called “on trend” and “fashion forward.”

Bonus: Ball also made his debut on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey list at No. 15 (results are determined by NBAStore.com Oct. 19-Jan. 12 sales). 

• It’s the first time any Hornet cracked the list in over 15 years.