Mark Kolbe/Getty ImagesLaMelo Ball enjoyed his best display in the National Basketball League so far but couldn't prevent the Illawarra Hawks from falling to their seventh loss of the season against the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday.
The point guard recorded 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists at the AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia, where the Hawks failed to move off the bottom of the NBL standings following an 83-69 defeat.
Ball, 18, led his team in points and assists and also recorded more rebounds than any other Illawarra player, the first time he's topped each field for the Hawks since arriving in Australia.
The NBL posted highlights of Sunday's match, which saw the 1-7 Hawks remain ninth in the table. The 4-3 Bullets moved up to fourth:
Illawarra were hit with the news on Monday that guard star Aaron Brooks will not feature again this season because of a torn Achilles tendon, putting new pressure on Ball to rise to the NBL challenge.
The teenager took great risk at times, driving deep to tee up team-mates, and recent compliments from NBA analyst Mike Schmitz looked to be well-placed:
NBL @NBL"He's one of the best 18 year old passers on the planet" - @Mike_Schmitz Exhibit A courtesy of LaMelo Ball ⤵️ #NBL20 https://t.co/lrV1033OPY
Ball needs to improve his delivery from three-point range, and showed it on Sunday, though there were occasions when the youngster looked a cut above the competition.
The expected 2020 NBA draft hopeful also took the responsibility to apply the finishing touches at times.
Basketball writer Johnny Carver said after the defeat to Brisbane that LaMelo could well prove to be a superior talent to older brother Lonzo, 22, of the New Orleans Pelicans:
NBL @NBLFloater ✅ Tough finish + the foul ✅ LaMelo Ball is stepping up for the Hawks in Canberra #NBL20 #BNEatILL https://t.co/j7lk1bOeLN
Guard Sunday Dech commented on the loss of Brooks, 34, and the responsibility that falls on the likes of him and Ball as a result, per Caden Helmers of the Canberra Times:
"It's huge. AB was really our floor general and leader out there at both ends of the court.
"For us young guys, we learnt from that. Over this next stretch, it's next man up, we have to step up. On any given night, one of us can have a big night but we have to stay on the same page.
"On the floor it's collective. LaMelo is a really young point guard, and Emmett [Naar] as well, but it starts with everyone."
It didn't take long for Ball to deliver his first three-pointer of the evening when Illawarra was trailing early on:
Johnny Carver @CarverJohnnyHis athleticism & size are so impressive. Unless he has health or personal issues that I don’t know about, I think he has a high floor and a high ceiling. - LaMelo Ball is realky good. Please get used to it. He might be better than Lonzo. His court vision is so instinctual.
That was one highlight from a portion of his game that may require development, while Bullets centre Will Magnay also exposed a weakness in the youngster's physicality:
NBL @NBLLaMelo Ball from.. dare we say it.. #NBA range? 🧐 CC: @DraftExpress @Mike_Schmitz #NBL20 #BNEatILL https://t.co/ub6Bs9QmO0
Ball continues to impress with the Hawks, and many will see Sunday's display as a step in the right direction despite Illawarra's woeful form.
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