While multiple anonymous reports from NBA executives and scouts have come out in recent weeks and months about LaMelo Ball’s potential in the NBA, few have come out from those with more first-hand experience of seeing Ball in action.
A recent piece from Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek saw an executive for the National Basketball League (NBL) speak highly of Ball’s future.
“I don’t see any way where LaMelo doesn’t go No. 1. He sees the floor better than anyone, and his passing and shooting is like nothing I’ve seen before.”
Recently, one NBA executive stated that a team would be “crazy” to draft Ball with the top pick. Other executives have questioned his work ethic or wondered how much he’ll focus on the NBA. But that hasn’t stopped Ball’s rise to the top of draft boards.
Ball’s rise has been made easier with many of his NCAA counterparts not yet hitting their strides. James Wiseman won’t play until the start of 2020 and while Anthony Edwards has certainly produced at times this year, he hasn’t caught the national (or even international) eyes that Ball has.
Whether he’s taken with the top pick or not, Ball has solidified his spot atop the draft boards and will be one of the first names called next June, a far cry from his second-round projection last year.
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