With the NBA 2020 Draft weeks away, where does LaMelo Ball land in the draft? And what can he learn from his NBL season for the NBA?
LaMelo Ball is one of the most polarizing draft prospects in recent NBA history. Ball has been in news cycles since he was a 13-year-old when he verbally committed to UCLA. As Ball’s life unfolded he ended up not playing in college and joined R.J. Hampton as the two-high profile “Next Stars” prospects to sign in the NBL (Australian Basketball League).
He signed with the Illawarra Hawks to be their star player and was given the keys to the offense, ranking within the top 10 of the NBL for usage rate and averaged 31.2 minutes per game in a FIBA 40-minute per game league.
It paid off, individually that is. Ball leaped up draft boards and despite playing less than half the season’s 28 games. He was awarded the NBL Rookie of the Year averaging 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
Ball’s season was cut short due to a foot injury and only played 12 games in the NBL. His record was subpar, only winning three out of his 12 games played before leaving the country to rehab and continued his pre-draft work back home in the United States.
When it came to the games (what really matters) LaMelo Ball was what you may expect, it was a spectacle and a highlight generator — the season was exciting, strange and glamorous.
His highlights and basketball mixtapes have seen millions of views on social media — when Ball faced off against the other next star R.J. Hampton it broke NBL viewership records with two million people worldwide tunning in.
Well, it comes down to LaMelo Ball himself, off the court there is baggage when you hear the name “Ball”, fairly or unfairly it’s true. When he’s on the court there are questions too, the ability to facilitate and score around the ring are unquestionable – but the defense, shot selection and attentiveness have been all questionable.
So, let’s break down what LaMelo Ball does well, not so well and what to expect when he comes into the NBA as a top 3 pick.
2020 NBA Draft Profile
Name: LaMelo Ball
Height: 6’7″ (6’10” Wingspan)
Weight: 190 pounds
Position: Point Guard
School/Club: Illawarra Hawks
NBA Comparison: Shaun Livingston, Jason Williams.
2019-2020 statistics
17 PPG
7.6 RPG
6.8 APG
35.7 FG%
25.0 3P%
72.3 FT%