The NBA is a league of opportunity, but few players have claimed their potentials quite like PJ Hall. Just months ago, Hall was grinding through the G-League, swinging back and forth between the Memphis Hustle and the Greensboro Swarm, searching for something permanent. Instead of just finding a home in Oklahoma City on Monday night, he built a fortress.
With the Hornets’ frontcourt rotation battered by injuries to Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate’s suspension, the “five” spot became an additional question mark heading into an upcoming matchup against an elite OKC Thunder side.
Not only did Hall occupy the space, he also brought the victory into focus. The 6'8" bruiser finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds, but his effect was felt in that kind of dirty work that doesn't sometimes show up at the end of each play. Hall says,
“It’s really just trusting in them to know that to put me in good positions,” Hall said of those teammates. “Whether that’s hitting me in rolls, whether hitting me on a dive like that at the end of the game, or trusting my shot,” he said.
Hall’s way of “elevating” his teammates has set off a cascade of changes for the Hornets’ offensive rhythm. Unlike conventional centers that remain chained to the rim, Hall’s versatility as a “stretch five” challenges opposing bigs to respect him as a jumper, allowing LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to find plenty of space. This solution isn’t an end; it’s a revelation.
And as Hall continues to develop chemistry off “rolls and dives,” the Hornets are realizing that its best lineup may have been Greensboro’s. With Hall’s current career trajectory just this way, the Hornets would have their frontcourt “problem” might have just become their true strength.