LaMelo Ball’s signing with National Basketball League side Illawarra was forecasted, at least in some capacity, many weeks in advance. All signs from the Ball camp pointed to LaMelo signing with either an Australian side or a Chinese side.
While Australia was always an option, Illawarra was not. Hawks owner Simon Stratford had to be convinced of bringing in Ball. Part of the convincing process, though, involved a cross-country flight to meet with Ball face-to-face.
In a recent profile on Ball in the Daily Telegraph in Australia, the recruiting process for Ball and the Hawks was made known. Along with general manager Mat Campbell and head coach Matt Flinn, Stratford made the 17-hour flight to Las Vegas to meet with Ball. The one-hour meeting with Ball and handler and mentor Jermaine Jackson.
In the meeting, the two sides talked about their respective goals and future plans and whether the plans overlapped. Stratford detailed the Hawks’ plan and pitch to Ball in the piece.
“LaMelo’s goal was to become No. 1 in the NBA draft, so we wanted to help him but there would be no preferential treatment,” Stratford said. “I wanted him to buy in to the team mentality. He isn’t just an individual and it isn’t only about him. We haven’t employed him to go, ‘This is the LaMelo Ball show.’ You are going to be expected to work and train hard. There will be no doing your own thing and showing up late.
LaMelo was awesome and from our meeting he changed my mind. He proved to me he was someone that I wanted around the club.”
Clearly, the move has paid off for both sides. Ball has been a huge success for Illawarra on and off the court. While the Hawks sit at the bottom of the table in the league, Ball has been the bright spot and the MVP of the team this season.
Ball has further strengthened his case for being the No. 1 pick this season while buying into the team mentality that Stratford mentioned while Illawarra has become a far more mentioned name in the basketball world this season. In all, it’s been a clear win-win for both sides.