Potential No.1 Pick LaMelo Ball Out For the Rest of NBL Season

LaMelo Ball playing in Lithuania in 2018
LaMelo Ball (left) playing in Lithuania in 2018. Photo by Rob Sambles/Frozen In Motion/Shutterstock

Illawarra Hawks’ LaMelo Ball, who is in the conversation for the first overall pick in 2020 NBA Draft, won’t play for the remainder of the Australian NBL league. According to the player’s agent, Jermaine Jackson, Ball must sit per “doctor’s policy” due to bone bruise he suffered back in December despite being healthy.

“Melo’s foot is totally healed, but the doctor’s policy is if you’re out for six weeks, you must rehab for six weeks,” Jackson told ESPN. “He’s starting court work tomorrow.”

Ball, who is the younger brother of New Orleans Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball, opted to skip college and instead played as a pro in Australia this season. His stint with Hawks’ was off to a great start, as he averaged 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game before going down with an injury.

While he won’t be able to finish the season, the majority of NBA analysts think that LaMelo Ball managed to show great things while on the court. While there were doubts about his game in the past, Ball now established himself as one of the top prospects in his class.

Many scouts view ball as the most talented player in the upcoming draft, but consider that his lack of defense might prevent him from being No.1 pick. The consensus is, however, that he’ll be among the top three players selected.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.