Tag: Jermaine Jackson

Lonzo Ball shares his advice given to LaMelo ahead of 2020 NBA Draft

As LaMelo Ball moves forward into an uncertain future with the 2020 NBA Draft, Lonzo Ball shared the advice he gave his youngest brother.

While Lonzo Ball has been able to provide unique advice to younger brother LaMelo on the pre-draft journey before entering the NBA, no one could have prepared him for the circumstances surrounding the 2020 NBA Draft.

In normal years, LaMelo would have already been drafted and would be competing in the Las Vegas Summer League presently. But 2020 has been far from normal and as a result, Ball is nowhere near being drafted.

Instead, the draft lottery and the ensuing draft are both set for the fall. Plans have changed on the fly, but that hasn’t stopped Lonzo from giving LaMelo more advice on how to handle the changes. Lonzo shared what he’s told his brother when talking to the media on Monday.

“I just told him to stay in the gym. I know he’s in Detroit working with (Jermaine Jackson) right now. As long as he gets his work in, regardless of what happens, the draft is going to be in October, I believe, so he should be ready by then. Then, whatever happens for next year, he should be good. I told him to stay in the gym and don’t worry about everything going on.

“Thankfully, our family is healthy so that’s cool. He’s just doing his thing in Detroit right now.”

It’s interesting that LaMelo is spending time with Jermaine Jackson in Detroit and not with LaVar in Chino Hills. LaVar has made it known that he takes full credit for creating three NBA players.

However, Jackson has been at LaMelo’s side for multiple years running now, dating back to SPIRE and through his time in the NBL. Jackson, though, has experience in the NBA, something LaVar doesn’t.

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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.

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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.

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LaMelo Ball’s purchase of Illawarra Hawks in serious doubt as NBL moves on

Once something that looked like a done deal, LaMelo Ball’s purchase of the Illawarra Hawks appears to be in most doubt yet.

Once something that was declared a done deal, LaMelo Ball’s purchase of the Illawarra Hawks is facing its most doubt yet.

On Wednesday, the Illawarra Mercury reported that the league was shifting its focus away from the LaMelo Ball-led consortium to other groups, seemingly ending his pursuit of owning the franchise.

This move comes after more and more information has been revealed about the state of the franchise in past days and weeks. Most recently, the state of the franchise’s finances was revealed, painting a particularly grim picture for the future.

While former teammate Aaron Brooks was in support of Ball’s purchase of the team, he was not met with unanimous support. Former NBL commissioner Rick Burton offered some warnings to Ball about buying the franchise while Hawks legend Glen Saville was against the idea.

At one point, the purchase was considered a done deal by Ball’s manager Jermaine Jackson as he told Jonathan Givony the transaction was complete. But Jackson, Ball and the NBL all had to quickly walk back the reports as part of what was deemed a miscommunication. Since then, the possibility of a deal has only grown less and less likely.

Ball spent the season on the court with the Hawks, playing 12 games before suffering a season-ending injury. During his dozen games, Ball averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

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LaVar Ball says LaMelo’s deal for Illawarra Hawks ‘is not dead’

Despite a lack of news in recent weeks, LaVar Ball insists LaMelo’s potential deal for the Illawarra Hawks is not dead.

After a flurry of news and reports in the first weekend of the franchise being up for sale, everything has gone quiet around the Illawarra Hawks, the NBL and LaMelo Ball’s consortium. But that delay is not due in part to Ball and his camp. In an interview with AAP’s Peter Mitchell, LaVar Ball talked about the status of the sale of the franchise.

Ball’s father, LaVar Ball, said on Thursday the 18-year-old is “ready, willing and able” to purchase the team.

“We are just waiting to see what they (NBL) say,” LaVar told AAP on Thursday.

Initially, it appeared LaMelo and his consortium had quickly swooped in and bought the franchise days after the NBL took control of the team. But Jermaine Jackson, LaMelo’s manager, jumped the gun on the news as the NBL was still fielding offers.

LaVar noted in the interview that the current COVID-19 situation has delayed matters with regards to the purchase of the team and reiterated the deal is not dead. While the current situation has slowed matters, though, it also means there is no rush from either side on the situation as well.

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LaMelo Ball working out with LaVar, Lonzo ahead of 2020 NBA Draft

Despite being quarantined to his house, LaMelo Ball has continued preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft by adding muscle to his frame.

Like athletes across the world, the normal routine for LaMelo Ball in the lead up to the 2020 NBA Draft has long gone out the window. In most years, players like Ball would be practicing daily in gymnasiums with specialized trainers while preparing for the predraft process. It wouldn’t even be a stretch to think that a top prospect like Ball would have begun individual workouts with teams.

Instead, everything is on hold across the sports landscape. Ball has remained at the Big Baller mansion and has been joined by older brothers LiAngelo and Lonzo. But the Ball family has taken the time together to work out with one another, led by father LaVar Ball.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony talked to LaMelo’s manager Jermaine Jackson about Ball’s current workout routine and the effects it’s already had.

“Right now Melo is focused on the weight room and working on his game training with Lavar. His father is doing a phenomenal job. He already put seven pounds of muscle on him. He’s working out with Lonzo and Gelo trying to get ready for whatever comes next. He’s grown half an inch in the last few months.”

The last sentence might be the most intriguing. There has yet been an official measurement of any sort for LaMelo’s height. Photos have shown in the past that he’s already taller than Lonzo, who is listed at 6’6″ on the Pelicans roster.

It’s also notable that LaMelo has added muscle to his frame. It’s almost certainly one of the first things any NBA team would have asked him to start doing given his slender frame. Lonzo himself has bulked up significantly since his rookie year.

Both Lonzo and LiAngelo have experience in what playing professionally and can mentor LaMelo in that aspect as well. Given the circumstances, it’s hard to think of a better position for LaMelo to be in than with family and fellow professionals while still training.

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Report: Ball brothers to sign with Roc Nation, Raymond Brothers

After multiple weeks of searching for representation, the Ball family will sign with Roc Nation and Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation’s President of Basketball.

After multiple weeks of searching for representation, the Ball family will sign with Roc Nation and Raymond Brothers, Roc Nation’s President of Basketball, as reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Monday.

Givony spoke with Jermaine Jackson, LaMelo Ball’s manager, on the decision to sign with Roc Nation.

“This was a family decision. This is now an extended family. They put together a beautiful game plan with Jay-Z. The basketball game is about to change. They are going to create something totally new.”

Roc Nation Sports was founded by music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was founded in 2013, kickstarted by Robinson Cano’s signing with the New York Yankees. Since that date, it has grown to represent athletes such as Kyrie Irving, Markelle Fultz and Saquon Barkley.

Jackson and LaMelo appeared to have held a meeting with Roc Nation in late February. Pictures posted by Jackson to a secondary Instagram account showed Carter’s private jet.

The three brothers were formerly represented by Creative Artists Agency. The trio left the agency in early March. Some reports suggested that Leon Rose, who potentially represented LaMelo, leaving to take a front office position with the Knicks led to departure of the family.

The move to Roc Nation comes at a critical time with the family. Lonzo can begin negotiating an extension in the upcoming off-season. LiAngelo, meanwhile, will be looking at potential Summer League and G League deals in the off-season and into next season as well. And, most obvious, LaMelo will be one of the top draft picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

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NBL willing to continue negotiations with Ball after ‘honest mistake’ by Jackson, Ball

After a miscommunication led to a premature declaration of completion from Jermaine Jackson, the NBL is open to continuing negotiations on the sale of the Illawarra Hawks.

As more news comes out regarding the sale – or more aptly the non-sale – of the Illawarra Hawks franchise, it has become clear that a miscommunication led to Jermaine Jackson’s premature declaration of a deal being done. As reported by Fox Sports Australia on Friday, Illawarra businessman Tory Lavalle was one of the members of the consortium along with Jackson and Ball that were looking to purchase the Hawks. But poor communication between the two gave Jackson the impression the deal was done, as he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

In reality, the deal is far from done as the league now holds the license to the Illawarra Hawks and is fielding offers from multiple suitors. Despite Jackson, Ball and Lavalle’s gaffe, the NBL is still open to dealing with the group about a potential deal, league commissioner Jeremy Loeliger told the AAP.

“It was a bit of misunderstanding and a miscommunication and I don’t think there was any malice intended. I don’t think anyone was trying to leverage the situation.

“I think it just snowballed and it got a little bit out of control but we’ve all had conversations and there’s certainly no bad blood out there between anyone.”

Given the inexperience Jackson and Ball have in making business deals, it’s likely safe to assume that it was a simple communication error. A shrewder businessman could have used that comment to apply pressure on the league to complete the deal.

Now, it seems that the consortium hasn’t been further from a deal. While they remain in the field of suitors, it’s an open competition for the franchise and given the inexperience in running a franchise that Jackson and Ball have, it puts them even further behind the eight ball.

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Illawarra Hawks purchase in doubt for LaMelo Ball, Jermaine Jackson

A miscommunication led to mixed signals from LaMelo Ball, Jermaine Jackson and the NBL on Thursday as the future of the Illawarra Hawks remains as unclear as ever.

Mixed signals coming from LaMelo Ball and Jermaine Jackson and the National Basketball League (NBL) on Thursday led to confusion over the future of the Illawarra Hawks’ franchise. After Jackson told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that their purchase of the Hawks was a done deal, the NBL refuted that with a statement stating quite the contrary.

On Friday, the origins of what led to those mixed signals and where Ball and Jackson stand in regards to purchasing the franchise was discovered. Fox Sports Australia’s Olgun Uluc got to the bottom of the confusion by seeking another member of the consortium Ball and Jackson were joining in Illawarra businessmen Tory Lavalle.

A miscommunication between Lavalle and Jackson and Ball led the latter duo to be under the impression they had completed the purchase of the franchise. Lavalle admitted to the mistake in a press release on Friday.

“With a view to maintaining a NBL team in the Illawarra, to further the options available, LaMelo Ball and Jermaine Jackson have expressed their interest in forming a consortium to potentially take over the Hawks licence Both LaMelo and Jermaine greatly enjoyed their time here at the Hawks and in the Illawarra. That experience led them to agree, in principle, to be involved with me should a licence opportunity in the Illawarra become available to us.

“Yesterday there were media reports stating that LaMelo and Jermaine have taken over the Hawks. Unfortunately, those reports were due to how I communicated with LaMelo and Jermaine. There was a misunderstanding that an agreement had been reached. For this, I unreservedly apologise to LaMelo and Jermaine.”

While the purchase is not official and does not appear to be imminent, Ball, Jackson and Lavalle still intend to pursue a deal for the franchise. Lavalle continued to say as much in his statement:

“However, I can assure the Illawarra, Hawks supports and the general basketball community that a consortium involving myself, LaMelo Ball and Jermaine Jackson remain very interested in discussing future possibilities and opportunities to retain a team in the Illawarra. Those discussions are continuing.

“Our only interest and motivation is to ensure the long term future of the Illawarra Hawks and for the team to be based right here in the Illawarra.”

This release from Lavalle came on the heels of Illawarra being placed into voluntary administration. The move would allow the league to field offers from suitors like Ball, Jackson and Lavalle, among others.

But given the league’s statement on Friday and Lavalle’s statement, it’s clear that the purchase of the Hawks is neither a done deal nor an imminent one. The NBL will clearly welcome bids on the franchise and determine the best owner or owners moving forward.

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Jermaine Jackson confirms LaMelo Ball’s purchase of Illawarra Hawks

Jermaine Jackson confirmed the reports that surfaced early on Thursday morning that he and LaMelo Ball were new owners of the Illawarra Hawks.

In a fast-evolving story over recent days, Jermaine Jackson, manager to LaMelo Ball, confirmed with ESPN on Thursday that he and Ball are new owners of the Illawarra Hawks. A very short quote from Jackson to DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony seemingly put the punctuation on a wild story.

“We own the team. It’s a done deal.”

A story that started gaining legs on Tuesday with reports that Ball and Jackson expressed interest in purchasing the Hawks accelerated quickly before week’s end. Late Thursday night in America, the Illawarra Mercury reported that Ball was close to securing ownership of the franchise he played for last season in the NBL.

Jackson and Ball developed a connection with the Wollongong community and the Hawks franchise which led to them reaching out once hearing the problems the franchise was suffering financially.

“Melo loves the Illawarra fans. He loves that community. They opened their arms to him. They made us feel like we are at home. When we started hearing about the issues they were going through, we talked about it and decided, ‘Let’s own the team.’

“He is going to be locked into his NBA career, but we are going to hire the right people to oversee everything. He wants to create the best basketball program possible for that community there.”

The move has yet to be made official by either the club or the league. However, it appears to only be a matter of time before Ball is the new owner of an NBL franchise.

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