LaMelo Ball figures to be one of the most polarizing prospects in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft. While the general consensus is that he will be a lottery pick and should be drafted in the top five, the variance of where he is projected to be drafted showcases how differently analysts, executives and scouts view him.
Kevin O’Connor’s recent piece explaining why he placed Killian Hayes atop his big board further exemplified how split executives are on Ball.
“Most executives currently expect the first three prospects to come off the board to be Georgia wing Anthony Edwards, Illawarra guard LaMelo Ball, and Memphis center James Wiseman. But it’s too early to say where each prospect will go when opinions vary so greatly. I’ve spoken with NBA executives who have Wiseman first, and others who have him ranked outside of the top 10. Edwards has been labeled a boom-or-bust prospect. And I’ve heard LaMelo called both ‘underrated’ and ‘overrated’ because of his family’s last name.”
The outlook on Ball also goes a long way in explaining how down the draft is this year in terms of top-end talent. Unlike last season with Zion Williamson or Ja Morant or Luka Doncic the year prior. Ball’s ceiling is as high as any prospect in recent years. However, in recent years, players like Williamson or Doncic had much higher floors than Ball and, thus, were far more highly-touted prospects.
That variance in how Ball is viewed and projected also stems from the lack of game film available on him. After only spending one year at prep school with SPIRE, Ball then only played 12 games with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL. His unique journey only adds to the questions surrounding Ball’s projections.
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