Ball on track to be No 1 draft pick

Respected ESPN Draft analyst Jonathan Givoney believes LaMelo Ball is on track to become the No 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft.

Illawarra Hawks star LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton of the New Zealand Breakers

Respected ESPN Draft analyst Jonathan Givoney believes prized Illawarra Hawks signing LaMelo Ball is on track to become the No 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft.

Givoney, who recently travelled to Australia to watch Ball play with the Hawks, says the 18-year-old guard has proven he belongs on the big stage through his performances in the NBL this season.

The NBA draft isn’t until next June but he says the younger brother of New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball should be a top pick alongside US college players such as James Wiseman (Memphis), Col Anthony (North Carolina) and Anthony Edward (Georgia).

“LaMelo has really helped his draft stock playing in Australia,” Givoney told The Weekend Auastralian.

“He has gone from a guy that most NBA teams didn’t really take seriously as a prospect to someone that is legitimately being talked about as a potential No 1 overall pick.

“LaMelo has also only played a quarter of the season, so he could continue to improve but I think he is in the conversation even though he still has a lot of work to do.”

In his nine NBL games, Ball is averaging 14.6 points, including 47.7 per cent from the field, and 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

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Givoney has been impressed with the rising guard’s ability to compete in a professional league full of seasoned campaigners.

“LaMelo has been phenomenal,” he said.

“I mean there is no other way to slice it. The guy has only just turned 18 a couple of months ago and he is not only holding his own in a very competitive league but he has also proven to be a significant difference maker.

“For example, in last week’s game against Cairns it was his best game of the season.

“He was unbelievable and he dominated. You don’t see that at the highest level of Europe and it shows you just how talented LaMelo is.”

Givoney also credits the strength of the Australian league for helping Ball develop his game.

“The difference for me is so stark when I watch an NBL game and then a college game and you just can’t compare the level of competition,” he said.

“It is so much higher in the NBL.”

Givoney is a huge fan of New Zealand Breakers guard RJ Hampton.

In his eight games, the Texas-born talent has averaged 9.9 points, including 40 per cent from the field and 31.3 from beyond the arc.

Hampton is a projected 2020 first-round pick, currently sitting at No 6 in mock drafts.

“If you look at Hampton’s numbers, in some regards they are better than LaMelo’s in terms of efficiency,” he said.

“He is firmly on the radar of NBA teams.

“In my opinion, he has also exceeded expectations with the way that he has performed so far.

“He is a freakish athlete. He has got phenomenal size for the point guard position.

“He is more than big enough to play off the ball. He is a terror in the open court – he is a primary initiator who is very effective at attacking the open rim.

“He is getting into the paint, kicking out and keeping the defence on their heels. That is so valuable in the modern NBA where it is such a wide open game and everyone plays so fast.

“To take his game to the next level, improving his strength will be the key to him getting to the rim and finishing some of those opportunities that he is creating.

“He is still a bit weak physically, which is to be expected. He is 18, so it is only a matter of time until he gets that strength to finish around the rim more consistently.

“Defensively there was also a lot to criticise. Early on in the season he was getting lost off the ball and missing assignments but I’ve seen a lot of improvement from him at that end.”

Givoney finds it difficult to discover a flaw in the Sydney Kings’ Brazilian-born point guard Didi Louzada.

In fact, Louzada’s battles with the English language is the only down side he can see.

“Didi has to work on his English – that is probably his main weakness,” he jokingly said about Louzada, who has averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

“But he has been great – the guy is a difference maker.

“He can guard, he is good in the open and he can make threes.

“He has shown a bit more in terms of his ball handling ability and shot creation.

“It has been a really successful experience so far for Didi, New Orleans and Sydney — the Pelicans have to be pleased.”

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH