One of the few coaches to have an extended time with LaMelo Ball in recent years is former Illawarra Hawks head coach Matt Flinn. Last season, Flinn coached Ball in their lone season as coach and player in the NBL.
Throughout the season and after, Flinn spoke highly not of Ball’s talent level but his personality and mentality as part of the program. Flinn lasted one season as head coach as the Hawks underwent wholesale changes from ownership down.
Nonetheless, Flinn’s experiences with Ball did not change, and he recently spoke to Sports Max at length about Ball’s first season in the NBA. Among the more notable quotes he gave included his thoughts as to whether Ball should be the Rookie of the Year even if he misses the rest of the season with his wrist injury.
“I might be biased but I really hope so. He is a once-in-a-generation player for the NBA,” added Flinn, who said Ball would be devastated following the wrist injury as he “lives, eats and sleeps basketball”.
Another notable quote from Flinn came when he was asked if he was surprised at all the records Ball was breaking in his rookie season with the Hornets.
“It really doesn’t surprise me. I’m not just saying it because the level of belief is probably the first thing that struck me about LaMelo.
“This kid was just born to play. You get a lot of players who are manufactured and they do an incredible amount of work, we put them in boxes in their roles they fulfill in teams. LaMelo really has no ceiling.”
Ball has a unique opportunity to win not only two Rookie of the Year awards in his career but back-to-back trophies at that. No player that has won NBA Rookie of the Year has won a Rookie of the Year award the previous season in a different professional league.
The whole interview with Flinn is interesting and insightful given his experience with Ball that few others have had.
[lawrence-related id=30816,30777,30755]