In 2017, when Lavar Ball stated his proclamation that his son, Lonzo Ball, only a freshman at UCLA at the time, was better than two-time MVP, Stephen Curry, it felt like the start of a long-lasting rivalry between the Ball family and the Golden State Warriors.
Fast forward a couple of years, with the Warriors slated to have a high lottery pick, and Ball’s youngest son— LaMelo, expected to be at the top of 2020 NBA draft boards, a once silly rivalry could turn into an eventual partnership.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic is hearing Warriors president of basketball operations and general manager, Bob Myers will be heading down under under to watch Ball play live in person.
From the time Ball dropped his verbal commitment to play basketball at UCLA, and opted to play professionally overseas as a high school junior, his story has been widely documented.
Ball now 18, has spent time playing professionally in Lithuania, and Australia with the Illawarra Hawks. Ball’s thrived playing overseas despite his age and slender frame, making him a candidate to be selected at the top of the 2020 NBA draft.
The Southern California native is touted for his long-range shooting ability and flashy playmaking, but what makes him unique is his 6-foot-7 size for the point guard position. When the rock is in his hands, Ball plays with a frenetic offensive pace tailored for the modern NBA game.
Playing behind Curry and Klay Thompson, with assistant coach Ron Adams monitoring Ball’s defensive development, could be the perfect fit for the youngest Ball brother. The Warriors desperately need a wing-bench threat that can fill it up when Curry and Thompson are off the floor, making Ball an exciting option for the former champs.
Ball will grab most of the headlines, but he’s not the only prospect Myers will have his eye on in Australia. RJ Hampton of the New Zealand Breakers is another 2020 draft lottery candidate Myers will be scouting on his trip, Slater says. Hampton is a smooth scoring point guard that could fit Golden State similarly to Ball.
With the Warriors record sitting at a league-worst 3-14, Myers, and the rest of the scouting department are quickly, and smartly turning their attention to the 2020 NBA draft.
