LaMelo Ball carries with him a certain expectation that often precedes him. Due largely to his father and his upbringing in the national spotlight, most assume Ball to be more like the Kardashians rather than his actual reserved self.
A number of people associated with Illawarra have spoken to Ball surprising them with their work ethic. Former head coach Matt Flinn wasn’t ignorant of Ball’s plan to use the club as a stepping stone but also spoke highly of his teenage point guard.
Flinn was recently quoted in Tim Keown’s ESPN profile on Ball and noted that, even despite the turmoil that surrounded the franchise last season, he would still select Ball with the top pick in October’s draft.
“One thing about Melo: It seems like he’s always had one foot in and one foot out of wherever he’s been in life. From Chino Hills to Lithuania to here — always one foot headed toward the next place. Once he finds his identity and where he wants to stay, the sky’s the limit. I know I’d pick him. He’s good for business.”
Flinn does make an interesting point of how the NBA will differ from each spot for Ball during his career. In each step of Ball’s professional career, it’s been abundantly clear he was using the team to get to another level.
In the NBA, he’ll be committed to a franchise for the first time, which could lead one of two ways. Using each club as a stepping stone could also be seen as a reason for Ball to stay sharp for his next move, meaning his dedication level could waver once he gets to the NBA where there’s no next step.
However, the more likely result given his brother Lonzo’s work ethic, LaMelo has had similar stories of his work ethic and appears to be a player that will dedicate himself to improving in the gym once he lands with a team in the draft.