LaMelo Ball has captivated audiences playing pro ball overseas, in Australia's NBL. A member of the Illawarra Hawks alongside former NBA journeyman Aaron Brooks, the 18-year-old hooper has cemented his place as a future top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball is averaging 17 points, 6.8 assists, and 7.6 rebounds over 12 games this season, playing 31.3 minutes per contest. These are excellent numbers, and against older and more experienced competition, no less. Also, if one dives deeper into Ball's skill set and physical tools, it becomes clear as to why many are so enamored with his potential and see him as a future star at the next level.
Maybe Ball's most impressive skills are his vision and playmaking ability. Sensational no-look dimes and one hand bullet passes to find the open man are plays that he makes on a consistent basis. Ball can handle the ball on the break and simultaneously keep his head up and make the right play, making him a deadly weapon in transition. He is arguably the best 18-year-old facilitator in years, and because of this Ball will be a great NBA passer right out of the gate. Not only does is the 6'7″ teenager already a superior playmaker compared to most NBA guards, but his ball-handling is also a skill that is NBA-ready as well. Ball's superb coordination and ambidexterity allow him to navigate his way down the court with the ball with relative ease, even when the defense applies pressure. He also has a few dribble moves that he occasionally pulls out of his back pocket. Crossovers, euro steps, and behind-the-back moves are all a part of Ball's repertoire.
Ball is not simply a facilitating maestro on the offensive end, he can also make plays for himself to be put in a position to score from the inside or out. He is a great finisher at the rim, he can lay it in with either hand, and he is so effective in the paint thanks to his combination of length and touch. Ball knifes to the rim sharply and with strength, couple that with the fact that he protects the ball adequately using his frame, and he has the tools needed to finish at the basket among the best in the world. LaMelo's jumper is far from a finished product, though he has shown the capability to knock down shots as the ball handler coming off screens, and he has NBA 3-point range, shooting the ball with accuracy from deep –– particularly in catch and shoot situations.
Ball is a uniquely talented passer and scorer for someone of his age. Assuming he continues to improve improvement in areas of weakness such as his shot selection and tendency to gamble for blocks and steals on defense, the young man will be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. It will be interesting to see if and how his draft stock fluctuates over the course of his season with Illawarra. Luka Doncic is someone who is an NBA comparison that many have said best describes LaMelo's skill set. While Doncic is undoubtedly the better player, it is a reasonable comparison considering they are both elite ball handlers and passers for their size, while also having a versatile offensive game that sees them scoring from all over the court.
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