LaMelo Ball becomes first top-3 pick since 2013 to go scoreless in NBA debut

After setting history alongside brother Lonzo at the NBA Draft, LaMelo Ball set a different kind of history on Wednesday. In his official NBA debut, Ball finished scoreless in 16 minutes, becoming the first top-3 pick since 2013 to score zero points in his debut, per Elias Sports.

That most recent example was Otto Porter Jr., in Washington. The only other top-three picks to be held scoreless in the last 15 seasons were Hasheem Thabeet with the Grizzlies in 2009 and Greg Oden with the Trailblazers in 2008.

On Wednesday, Ball’s final stat line in those 16 minutes was zero points on five field goal attempts, three of those coming from three. He also finished with three assists, two steals, one rebound, three turnovers and two fouls.

Ball was also held scoreless in his preseason debut, but did dish out a handful of flashy assists and pulled down 10 rebounds, still finding a way to make an impact.