NBA Draft News: Australian NBL Season Over For Top Draft Prospect LaMelo Ball

KEY POINTS

LaMelo Ball injured his foot during practice in December
He is expected to be the top pick of the 2020 NBA Draft
His last two games were triple-doubles – against Cairns and New Zealand

There will be no more LaMelo Ball showcase happening in the Australian NBL.

According to ESPN reports, the Illawarra Hawks guard’s season in the Australian league is over and was confirmed by his manager and trainer Jermaine Jackson. The 18-year old guard suffered a bone bruise on his foot during practice and that kept him out of the action for the Hawks since December 8.

LaMelo Ball's season in Australia is over, his manager Jermaine Jackson told ESPN via text message. He will begin six weeks of rehab as he's been cleared for court work activity. Full story: https://t.co/F2uiIDyI2F
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) January 16, 2020

“Yeah he’s done,” Jackson said if Ball is going to sit out the rest of his NBL season. "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," he added. The six-week duration will fall at the end of the league’s regular-season and with the Hawks’ record at 5-17 win-loss card, his team will not be moving on to the next round.

“It’s unfortunate that it has to be shut down for an injury,” Illawarra coach Matt Flinn said per Fox Sports Australia reports. “The kid was on a rapid rise of development, mostly due to the work we put into him with team concepts,” added Flinn, a former Illawarra Hawk himself.

He averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.7 steals in 12 games he spent with the team. His last two games came off an impressive stat-line – two straight triple-doubles – where he made history as the youngest player ever to record a triple-double in the league. He had 32 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds against Cairns Taipans and followed it up with a 25-12-10 stat-line against New Zealand Breakers.

His road to recovery will come just in time as he’s preparing himself for the 2020 NBA Draft, where he is projected to be the top pick. The 6-foot-7 guard is the youngest of the Ball brothers, where the oldest one, Lonzo, is with the New Orleans Pelicans.