Bridges: LaMelo has 'made the difference' for Hornets' attendance

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges says there's been a noticeable shift in attendance since LaMelo Ball arrived in town.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, Miles credited Ball with turning the Hornets into a hot ticket the past two seasons.

"My first two years, it was only packed if we played the Lakers, the Knicks, or the Celtics," Bridges said. "A lot of fans came to see them. Now, fans actually come to see us. That's Melo. He's made the difference."

The Hornets had a 90% renewal rate for season tickets this offseason and added 2,200 new season-ticket holders, which put them among the NBA's top-five ticket sellers. The team ranks 16th in the NBA for attendance this campaign with an average of 16,452 people per home game, according to ESPN.