Tag: Illawarra Hawks

Report: NBA scouts, teams not concerned about LaMelo Ball’s maturity

While some have had concerns about LaMelo Ball off the court, not all scouts are bothered by maturity concerns for the 2020 Draft prospect.

[jwplayer CwFyiunX-z6KDnl0B]

One of the main concerns for NBA scouts regarding LaMelo Ball has not been an on-court matter but instead of the court. Based largely on preconceived notions, some NBA scouts have raised concerns on Ball’s maturity.

Along with those concerns of his maturity, the presence of LaVar has also worried some scouts and executives in and around NBA teams. Both matters were recently addressed by The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, a beat writer for the Minnesota Timberwolves. And not surprisingly, neither issue has seemed to amount to much.

“Scouts I talk to have been encouraged by LaMelo’s maturity. He still has a lot of developing to do as a player, but I haven’t heard teams express the kind of concern about inviting the circus to town with him that many did when Lonzo was coming in.”

Concerns of Ball’s maturity likely boil down how he first came onto the scene with Chino Hills. Once seen as a cocky teenager pulling up from half-court for Chino Hills when not cherry-picking for his 92-point game, Ball has come a long way.

All the reports from his season with Illawarra indicate the Ball was a hard worker that kept his nose to the pavement and didn’t create any sort of issues. However, first impressions are mighty hard to overcome.

Likewise with LaVar, there is now a track record of what to expect from him that should ease concerns. At his worst with Lonzo, LaVar did little more than jump on TV shows and yell for a few days before fading back into the background.

It all should add up to few concerns, if any, of LaMelo off the court when looking at him as a 2020 NBA Draft prospect.

New Illawarra coach says LaMelo Ball was ‘immense’ for league, bad for Hawks

After watching LaMelo Ball take part in a tumultuous season with Illawarra, new head coach Brian Goorjian spoke of how he’d do things differently.

While new Illawarra Hawks head coach Brian Goorjian admitted that LaMelo Ball was “immense” for the National Basketball League (NBL) given the exposure he brought in, he also noted that the guard didn’t exactly help Illawarra’s future.

In a radio interview with SEN NSW Breakfast with Joel & Jimmy, Goorjian, who is a six-time NBL title-winning coach, not only discussed Ball’s impact on the league but on the Hawks, who finished last in the league, as well. Goorjian did not criticize how Illawarra approached using Ball but noted that he would do things differently moving forward.

“With LaMelo Ball you have a guy that needs to be serviced, is young, needs the ball in his hands and needs to showcase who he is for the draft. When he’s high in the draft, a lot of times for a number of reasons, they turn the tap off. From a basketball standpoint, from a coaching standpoint, it’s a different look than what it is for the League.

“It was immense and huge for the League and he’s a tremendous talent but as far as the Hawks, it’s the first time they’ve ever finished in last place. He got those two triple-doubles and everybody promoted when he came to this (League) that there was a very big doubt that he would play all the way through the League (season).

“So I’m more inclined as a coach to do what Sydney did and get a guy (Didi Louzada) that’s been drafted and now wants to prove himself to those who (initially) drafted him in the NBA. That’s from a personal standpoint as a coach as opposed to somebody that’s trying to promote the League and the importance of that.”

With or without Ball, Illawarra struggled last season. The team finished at the bottom of the standings. The Hawks finished with a 5-23 record, worst in the league by four games. In the 12 games Ball was in the lineup, Illawarra was 4-9, including a win in his final game. But that means Illawarra finished 1-14 to end the season without him.

The aftermath of Ball’s departure from the club also paints the picture as to how dysfunctional and grim the club’s situation was. The team would be sold and head coach Matt Flinn, who was appointed prior to the 2018-19 season, was not brought back for the 2020-21 season.

As the team moves forward into the future with Jerry Colangelo as part of the ownership group and Goorjian as new coach, the team will certainly be handling things much differently it appears.

[lawrence-related id=22478,22441,22349]

NBL passes on LaMelo Ball, sells Illawarra Hawks to Bryan Colangelo

After extended discussions with LaMelo Ball, the NBL opted to sell the Illawarra Hawks to a group featuring former Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo.

The long-lasting tale of the sale of the Illawarra Hawks finally came to an end on Tuesday as the NBL announced the franchise would be sold to an ownership group featuring former Philadelphia 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo. A consortium led by LaMelo Ball was long considered the front-runner to purchase the franchise.

A statement from Colangelo was included in the league’s press release on the announcement.

“We are thrilled to be selected as new partners with the league and pledge to outperform the expectations placed on us and deliver for Hawks fans. Australian basketball with its great history has been on a significant rise for many years now and the NBL has played a significant role in growing the sport’s awareness and participation levels, while developing some of the best athlete and coaching talent the world has to offer.”

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ball’s group and the league had “serious discussions” about the sale of the team but a deal “never materialized.” Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, the last report indicated that Ball’s group was closing in on a deal.

The saga as to whether Ball’s group would be able to buy the franchise dates back to early April when Jermaine Jackson, Ball’s manager, jumped the gun and told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that they had completed a deal to buy the Hawks. Both sides then walked back the claims and were never able to come to an agreement on a deal after that point.

Interestingly, the new ownership group intends to remove the name Illawarra from the name of the team. The team will be known simply as the Hawks moving forward.

[lawrence-related id=23860,23851,23837]

LaMelo Ball says celebrity lifestyle at young age is normal for him

After being put in the spotlight in a young age, LaMelo Ball has adapted to his celebrity lifestyle as a teenager.

Few people have had a camera in front of him at such a long age and for such a lengthy time as LaMelo Ball has. Starting as a young teenager on Chino Hills with his older brothers, Ball has had a camera in his face and a spotlight on his game.

Now, nearly a half-dozen years removed from those early days, Ball has adapted to the lifestyle of being in the public eye. He talked about having to live with all eyes on him during his recent interview with Australia GQ.

“It was something I grew into. It felt real normal – it felt like my life.”

Ball’s ability to draw a crowd is unparalleled for an 18-year old. During his brief time in the NBL, Ball helped the league set both viewership and attendance records in separate contests. And he did it all while being in the middle of a bubble with fans and media alike swarming around him all season long.

Not every youngster could handle the pressure Ball has and he’s adjusted to it with a temperament much like his older brother Lonzo. Both have dynamic personalities outside of the public eye but opt for a quiet, reserved demeanor in front of cameras. It’s how each has adapted to being in the spotlight for so many years and they appear to have managed successfully.

[lawrence-related id=22485,22478,22472]

Report: LaMelo Ball closing in on purchase of Illawarra Hawks, deal ‘imminent’

LaMelo Ball and his consortium are, at last, closing in on the purchase of the Illawarra Hawks with a deal now imminent.

After much, much back and forth between LaMelo Ball, the Illawarra Hawks and the NBL, it appears Ball is finally closing in on the purchase of the franchise. The Illawarra Mercury reported on Monday that a deal between the NBL and Ball is “imminent.”

This news flies directly in contrast of the most recent report stating that the NBL was moving on Ball and his consortium. The tale of the sale of the franchise has been a long, winding one, starting with a surprising link between Ball and the club that appeared to immediately lead to the purchase.

Just as quickly, the league came out and pushed back against the report of the sale being final and thus began a long process of the NBL taking over control of the team while seeking a full report on the state of the finances of the club.

Now, though, appears to be the real deal as the sides have circled one another for weeks before  closing in on this deal.

[lawrence-related id=22478,22472,22468]

Illawarra head coach Matt Flinn on first impression of LaMelo Ball: ‘He sleeps, drinks basketball’

Illawarra Hawks head coach Matt Flinn admitted to being surprised by LaMelo Ball upon his first impression of the teenager.

A reoccurring theme among many members of the Illawarra Hawks team and staff that met LaMelo Ball last season was that of surprise. Most people came with an expectation of what Ball was like based on the perception of him through social media, highlight videos and traditional media.

Instead of dealing with a prima donna prospect, Ball proved to be a hard-working, basketball-loving teenager focused on improving on the court and less about off-court matters. During a recent interview with GQ Australia, Hawks head coach Matt Flinn talked about his first impression of Ball.

“The first thing I noticed about LaMelo was just how joyful he was, He sleeps, drinks basketball. That’s his whole world and everything he does. There’s a perception about LaMelo from what you see online but that’s nothing like what you see inside the team group. He enjoys other people succeeding; a lot of people think it’s all about him. It’s not. He’s a really special kid in that way.”

Flinn is one of many who have shared the sentiment. Aaron Brooks, who only spent roughly half a season with the Hawks before going down with injury, talked with TMZ about expecting Ball to be a Kardashian and be pleasantly surprised.

David Andersen had a much more recent interview with ESPN in which he shared the sentiment. He also added that the team was ill-prepared for the LaMelo Ball experience even with his commitment to the franchise.

This preconceived notion is going to be one that Ball fights for the early stages of his career. Between his early highlights at Chino Hills and his father’s abrasiveness, Ball is going to continue to have to face the same assumptions about him and will be forced to continue to prove people wrong.

LaMelo Ball says experience in Lithuania helped him in the long run

While a move that looked to be a failure in the moment, LaMelo Ball’s year in Lithuania was a move that he ultimately felt make him better.

By nearly all accounts, the Ball family’s experience in Lithuania with BC Vytautas was a failure. After lasting just one year overseas in Europe, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball were forced to return back to America largely with their tail tucked between their legs after failing to make much of an impression on the team or league.

While the immediate consequences of the decision to go overseas were largely negative, the long-term effects actually produced some positives for the Ball family and, specifically, LaMelo.

During an interview with GQ Australia, Ball talked about the experience of playing professionally in Lithuania.

“I feel it helped me in the long run. I grew up a lot. After doing that I felt I could go anywhere.”

Lithuania served largely as a crash course for Ball in the lifestyle of being a professional basketball player. The family’s Facebook show “Ball in the Family” showed how Ball lived in Lithuania and while it was a mess at the time, it served as a learning experience that he almost certainly relied upon in once joining the National Basketball League (NBL).

Ball talked in the same interview about the decision to join the NBL and why it was an easy one given the previous experience he had in Lithuania. So, while it was a move that did not produce strong dividends in the moment, it was a move that paid at least some dividends in the future.

[lawrence-related id=22445,22434,22423]

LaMelo Ball says choosing Australia, NBL was easy decision

LaMelo Ball discussed his choice to join the National Basketball League in Australia and why it wasn’t a difficult decision.

In joining the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia last season, LaMelo Ball blazed down a path that few before him had traveled. While others may have taken his route through the NBL and into the NBA, none as highly-rated a prospect or as popular as Ball had ever chosen the league’s Next Stars program.

Ball’s unique upbringing as a basketball prospect with his infamous stop in Lithuania meant, though, that he was uniquely qualified to handle the rigors of playing halfway across the world in a completely different league. That previous experience not only simplified his experience in Australia but simplified his decision to join the NBL as well.

In an interview with GQ Australia, Ball discussed choosing the NBL.

“Australia was an easy decision. Most players wouldn’t really do that – they wouldn’t want to leave friends and family – but I’d already been through all that.”

While the choice itself may have been easy, the options were actually fairly limited for Ball. By the end of his deliberation, only the NBL and the Chinese Basketball Association existed as realistic landing spots for the youngest member of the Ball family.

For all the cons of Ball not taking a traditional path through the amateur basketball scene, one of the pros meant he is more adept than most at playing against adults in a professional basketball landscape. That should translate to the NBA for Ball as he’s familiar with focusing on basketball solely and adjusting to the rigors of traveling to games and the tolls that can take on a body.

It may not lead directly to success on the court but it’ll be an interesting case study in whether Ball’s path is a viable one for future prospects.

[lawrence-related id=22466,22461,22453]

Illawarra coach Matt Flinn shares tremendous story on LaMelo Ball’s confidence

LaMelo Ball’s confidence has never been doubted but a recent story from Hawks’ head coach Matt Flinn reemphasized that swagger.

LaMelo Ball may be a quiet figure on the outside but stories of his self-confidence and belief have been shared many times over. While his father LaVar certainly boasts loudly about how confident he is, LaMelo opts to show it on the court, most memorably in the form of his half-court three-point attempts.

One of the best stories about Ball’s confidence came from Matt Flinn, Illawarra Hawks head coach. In an interview with Australia GQ, Flinn revealed that prior to a game this season, he pulled Ball aside to discuss some last-minute strategy which led to a great one-liner from Ball.

“I wouldn’t bet against him. The kid’s got such self-belief. I’ll tell you a story. We’re playing Adelaide and just before we run out, I grab LaMelo. I tell him he’s going to face this particular guard. ‘Just back up and go at him, he won’t be able to stay in front of you,’ I tell him. LaMelo replies, ‘Yeah, him and everyone else in the world,’ then runs out on the court.”

From a story-telling perspective, it’s unfortunate that Ball finished with only 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting in that game, but did drop a gorgeous highlight-reel assist. The Hawks lost the game 98-92 but the story will certainly add to the folklore of Ball’s self-confidence.

Illawarra Hawks forced to liquidate assets to pay off $2 million in debts

The Illawarra Hawks continue to battle its financial woes by liquidating its assets to begin paying off its millions in debt.

After last week’s dive into the team’s finances revealed massive debts in the range of $2 million, the Illawarra Hawks were forced to liquidate its assets. The team reportedly owes players and staff members upwards of $750,000.

The Hawks were placed into voluntary administration prior to the dive into the team’s finances revealed the club had not turned a profit in four years. With the league controlling the franchise, the focus is to keep one of the founding clubs of the league afloat despite the debts and challenges ahead.

LaMelo Ball was once heavily linked to the purchase of the franchise. Despite Ball’s camp’s insistence that the deal was never in danger, the franchise’s bid never recovered from its initial optimism. And in the wake of the financial findings, momentum on a deal has stalled to the point where it no longer seems likely.

Ball and the Hawks will now continue heading separate ways with Illawarra likely searching for another owner and Ball likely moving away from purchasing the franchise.