LaMelo Ball has been creating plenty of headlines since he announced he would be skipping college basketball and jumping straight to Australia's National Basketball League ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Fast forward five months since his announcement on ESPN's "The Jump," and Ball now sits near or at the top of several mock draft boards.
"For sure [it] feels good," Ball said in an exclusive interview at Foot Locker QV in Melbourne. "[I've] been working for it for a minute now and pretty much just trying to grow from there."
While there were plenty of questions marks surrounding Ball's move to the Illawarra Hawks on the other side of the world, the 18-year-old has let his numbers do the talking, becoming the youngest player in NBL history to record a triple-double with a career-high 32 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in the Hawks' 114-106 November win over the Cairns Taipans.
Every highlight, all of them (there were a lot) from LaMelo Ball's triple-double against the Cairns Taipans ⤵️
— NBL (@NBL) November 25, 2019
3⃣2⃣ points
1⃣1⃣ rebounds
1⃣3⃣ assists#NBL20 pic.twitter.com/glzdTzYgHj
MORE: Will James Wiseman be top pick after leaving Memphis?
He followed that up with another triple-double in his very next game, recording 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against fellow projected lottery pick RJ Hampton and the New Zealand Breakers.
With the teen star sending social media around the world into overdrive with every deep 3-pointer and flashy assist, Ball says many of his peers back home either in college or high school have had their heads turned by his showstopping games in the NBL and the potential that lays in playing overseas to prepare for the NBA Draft.
"For sure [there are] a lot of questions," Ball said of his conversations with friends back home. "I feel like people in the future are going to start doing it. [It's been] pretty much all good feedback."
Ball and Hampton arrived in Australia as the faces of the "Next Stars" program, designed to give potential draft picks an opportunity to get paid to develop in a professional environment. Six months out from the draft, Ball credits the NBL for giving him the freedom to work on his game full-time and learn the ropes of being a professional athlete.
"I just like being different. College isn't for everyone I think, so this path can help you do other stuff that you want to do," Ball said. "It's a great league. They say it's the second [-best] league, NBA players that were in the NBA stuff like that and people trying to get to the NBA. It's a great league."
Following his first triple-double performance, video footage emerged of Ball working out at 2 a.m. alongside his trainer Jermaine Jackson and Hawks teammate Sunday Dech, giving an insight into the teenager's work ethic.
2AM WORKOUT EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE:
— Corey “Homicide” Williams (@chomicide) November 25, 2019
Jermaine Jackson teaching footwork skills coming off the screen w @MELOD1P & Sunday Dech the morning of the game. He did these moves in the game making history as the youngest player to get a Triple Double 32p 11r 13a 2TO 4/7 3pt fga and a W In OT. pic.twitter.com/BWRYRUy8Uq
"Just pretty much the grind never stops," Ball said. "You know you always have room to get better, so after you have a good game, get back in there and just keep working. Pretty much just trying to improve everything, you know that's pretty much the main thing, just going at it every day."
Basketball is the Ball family business, and as LaMelo continues his preparation for the 2020 NBA Draft, his older brother and current Pelicans point guard Lonzo has been there guiding him every step of the way.
Lonzo, who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers, entered the league with a level of hype similar to LaMelo.
"I pretty much talk to him every day," LaMelo said. "He's always giving me advice. [He] pretty much [says], 'Keep your head up. Do what you want to do. And whatever you feel is best, follow that.'"
