In short tenure in Australia, LaMelo Ball has already made a big impact. He set the record for viewership of an NBL game in his debut then broke that record last week in the Hawks’ loss to R.J. Hampton and the New Zealand Breakers.
Attendance figures have shot up across the league due to Hampton and Ball’s involvement this season. On the court, both have produced memorable highlights in the early stages of the league. While Breakers CEO Matt Walsh talked recently about Hampton’s impact on the Breakers and the league, Hawks CEO Matt Cambell talked about how big Ball has been for his franchise.
Look, the exposure has been amazing. To have this young, talented guard like LaMelo playing with our club has been pretty awesome. We’ve seen a good increase in our membership, a good increase in attendance. And it’s exciting for basketball. We’re on a real upclimb at the moment and just exciting to see where that ceiling can be.
The Hawks have struggled on the floor this season, their latest loss to Perth dropping them to 1-6 on the season. Off the court, though, Ball continues to drive fans to the stadium and to the telecasts. While it’s not the end goal Illawarra and the NBL may necessarily want, it’s still proving to be a worthy gamble for both parties early in the season.
