LaMelo Ball has left the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League in Australia to return to the United States to train for the 2020 NBA Draft, the team announced on Tuesday.
Ball has not played with the Hawks since Nov. 30 after suffering a bone bruise in his left foot. While Ball is fully healthy now, the Hawks announced on Jan. 16 that the 18-year-old would not return to play since he would not be back in game shape before the season concludes next month.
Ball averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.7 steals in 12 games this season with the Hawks, while he shot 37.3% from the field and 24.3% from 3-point range.
Next stop, NBA 🙌
Thanks for the ride Melo, we can’t wait to see where the rest of your journey takes you!
LaMelo Ball has returned to the USA today to continue his rehabilitation as he prepares for the 2020 NBA Draft.#FlyAsOne x #HawksFamily
— Illawarra Hawks (@IllawarraHawks) January 29, 2020
Ball became the youngest player in NBL history to record a triple-double on Nov. 25 when he tallied a career-high 32 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. He followed that performance up with another triple-double, becoming the first player in the 40-minute era to have consecutive triple-doubles.
Though many believed Ball would play one season in Australia, the guard was fully invested during his time abroad. Ball donated one month of his NBL salary to help Australian wildfires as emergency crews battle several blazes across the country.
After his season in the NBL, Ball is widely considered to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. In the latest Rookie Wire 2020 NBA Mock Draft, Ball is projected to be taken with the No. 1 pick by the Golden State Warriors.
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