LaMelo Ball will miss approximately four weeks with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League after suffering a foot injury, the team announced.
Ball suffered a bruised foot in practice last week and was prescribed to rest by a team doctor, likely keeping him out until January at the earliest. The team announced on Thursday that Ball would not play Saturday against the Brisbane Bullets due to a sore foot.
Ball will rehab his injury in Australia as the 18-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and finish out the remainder of the season with the Hawks in the NBL. The game on Saturday marked the first of the regular season that Ball missed with the Hawks.
Prior to suffering the injury, Ball had been on a recent tear with the Hawks.
Ball recently recorded back-to-back triple-doubles and became the first NBL player in the 40-minute era to have consecutive triple-doubles. Over his last five games, Ball is averaging 23.2 points, 9.4 assists, nine rebounds and 1.6 steals while he is shooting 40.1% from the field.
In 12 games this season, Ball is averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.7 steals for the Hawks, while he is shooting 37.3% from the field and 24.3% from 3-point range.
A four-week timetable would have Ball missing around seven games.
[lawrence-related id=7542,6521,5943]