Why Luke Paul Said No to a $3 Million College Bag to Get “Beaten Up” in the NBL
February 17, 2026
LaMelo Ball
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 22/08/01
- Place of Birth: Chino Hills, California (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 82
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 20/09/19
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 30/11/19
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 18
- NBL History: Illawarra 2020
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Ball began high school at Chino Hills High School in California, where he won a state championship and achieved national success as a freshman with his older brothers Lonzo, now a NBA guard, and LiAngelo.
Before his junior season, a coaching dispute prompted him to leave Chino Hills and sign with Lithuanian professional team Prienai.
In 2018, he played in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league created by his father, before returning to high school as a senior with SPIRE Institute in Ohio.
In 2018 he also played for Prienu Vytautas in Lithuania with his younger brother LiAngelo. Older brother Lonzo plays for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans and when LaMelo was drafted, the two brothers became the first to both be drafted in the top 3 of the NBA draft
NBL EXPERIENCE
LaMelo Ball made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 18 years of age. He scored 19 points in his first game.
The Hawks entered NBL20 with significant hype, driven by the signing of LaMelo Ball through the league’s Next Stars program. In a made-for-television event, Ball signed a deal to play for the Illawarra Hawks under the NBL’s Next Stars program, announcing his signing live on ESPN on June 17, 2019, and making his debut one month after his 18th birthday.
Alongside Ball, the Hawks secured former NBA players Aaron Brooks and Josh Boone (via Melbourne). Returning players Todd Blanchfield and AJ Ogilvy were expected to play key roles, setting high expectations for the season.
On June 17, 2019, Ball announced his signing with the Hawks live on ESPN’s *The Jump*. He became the second high school phenom to join the Next Stars program after RJ Hampton of the New Zealand Breakers. Ball’s debut game against Brisbane on October 6 garnered nearly two million global viewers on Facebook, heralding what was expected to be a transformative season for the Hawks.
The season began with potential, as the Hawks opened with a competitive loss to Brisbane (90–81). Aaron Brooks (23 points) led the charge, while LaMelo Ball (12 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) impressed with a double-double but struggled with efficiency (6-of-17 shooting) in his professional debut. Despite the defeat, the chemistry between Brooks and Ball provided a glimpse of the team’s offensive promise, and Ball’s debut drew almost two million global viewers on Facebook, breaking all-time NBL viewership records.
The team then suffered a massive blow early in the season when Aaron Brooks (17.9 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists) tore his Achilles in Round 6 against Perth, ending both his season and career. Brooks had been instrumental in mentoring Ball and providing leadership in the backcourt, and his absence thrust the 18-year-old into a central role far earlier than planned.
LaMelo Ball’s season was marked by extraordinary performances, including back-to-back triple-doubles. In Round 8, he recorded 32 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds against Cairns in a thrilling 114–106 overtime victory, capped by a clutch three-pointer to force the extra period. After becoming the youngest player in NBL history to record a triple-double (a record since broken by Josh Giddey), Ball notched a second straight triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against New Zealand, becoming the first player to record consecutive triple-doubles.
On December 8, before playing another game, it was announced that Ball would miss approximately four weeks of action after bruising his foot in practice. Following pressure from the NBL to alleviate Ball’s workload, Darington Hobson was signed in December 2019. Hobson, a former Milwaukee Bucks draftee, struggled to make a significant impact as the Hawks continued to face challenges with consistency.
Shortly afterward, Ball’s season came to a definitive end when he decided to leave Illawarra with four games remaining to prepare for the 2020 NBA Draft. This marked an early conclusion to his highly anticipated stint in the NBL, cutting short a campaign in which he averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists across 12 games.
After Ball’s exit, the Hawks brought in Billy Preston (6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds) as an additional import to cover the gaps left by the absences of Brooks and Ball. Preston, who had a personal connection to Ball from their high school days, was expected to add depth to the frontcourt. However, his tenure was short-lived, ending after just three games due to multiple missed practices. The decision to part ways with Preston added to the instability of the Hawks’ roster.
With all of the injury woes, the Hawks struggled for consistency, finishing with a 5–23 record and losing their final 10 games of the season. Despite numerous financial challenges, the Hawks set an NBL attendance record with 17,514 fans against Sydney in Round 7 at Qudos Bank Arena, a clear testament to Ball’s star power. Ball, who is considered the best 18-year-old ever to play in the NBL not named Andrew Gaze, also claimed the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
“Success is measured in different ways. While we are not happy with our record, we are proud of the progress made and the exposure brought to the club,” Coach Matt Flinn said on the challenging season.
Todd Blanchfield (13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) stepped up as the team’s primary scoring option following Brooks’ departure, and his consistent performances earned him the Hawks’ MVP award for the second consecutive year.
Sunday Dech (9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) became a legitimate NBL star during the absence of Ball, with his breakout game coming in a Round 13 upset over the Sydney Kings (85–80).
Other key contributors for the Hawks included Ogilvy (8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds), Josh Boone (8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds), and David Andersen (6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds), who provided veteran leadership from the bench.
The Hawks’ younger players also showed promise amidst adversity. Sam Froling (6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) displayed growth despite missing 11 games due to injury. Angus Glover (5.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) overcame a history of injuries to deliver valuable minutes, while Emmett Naar (5.6 points and 3.6 assists) also stepped up during Ball’s absence.
In the 2019/20 season, the Hawks were the talk of the basketball world after signing LaMelo Ball to a Next Stars contract aimed at helping him develop his game prior to the NBA Draft. Although Ball would only play until mid-season (12 games), Blanchfield played a key role in the development of the young but still raw guard. The two formed a close bond off the court, with Blanchfield often advocating for the then-18-year-old as he adapted to the professional game.
Ball’s impact was evident on 24 October 2019, when the Hawks faced the New Zealand Breakers in a game that featured fellow Next Stars talent RJ Hampton. It became the most-watched game in NBL history, with nearly two million views globally on Facebook.
While ‘Melo averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in 31 minutes per game, Blanchfield averaged 13.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists to form a one-two punch for the Hawks’ offense. For all the media attention the Hawks garnered with LaMelo on the roster, this did not translate into team success, with Illawarra finishing with the worst record in the league, mustering only five wins for the season. Blanchfield was named the Hawks’ club MVP for the second year in a row, while Ball took home the NBL Rookie of the Year award before departing to begin his NBA career.
LaMelo Ball played one season in the NBL. He averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7 assists in 12 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 18 | Illawarra | 5-23 (9) | 12 | 374.5 | 204 | 90 | 84 | 22 | 68 | 20 | 1 | 29 | 31 | 75 | 201 | 37% | 20 | 82 | 24% | 34 | 47 | 72% | 46% | 42% | 32 | Totals | 12 | 375 | 204 | 90 | 84 | 22 | 68 | 20 | 1 | 29 | 31 | 75 | 201 | 37.3% | 20 | 82 | 24.4% | 34 | 47 | 72.3% | 46% | 42% | 32 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 18 | Illawarra | 5-23 (9) | 12 | 31.2 | 17.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 16.8 | 37% | 1.7 | 6.8 | 24% | 2.8 | 3.9 | 72% | 46% | 42% | 32 | Total | 12 | 31.2 | 17.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 16.8 | 37.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 24.4% | 1.7 | 6.8 | 72.3% | 46% | 42% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
LaMelo Ball was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with pick #3 in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The moment a Hawk become a Hornet 🙌
— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) November 19, 2020
Congratulations, @MELOD1P #IllawarraProudpic.twitter.com/tIu5wt5dQn
After an up-and-down preseason, he began the regular season coming off the bench. Ball made his debut on December 23, 2020, going scoreless along with one rebound, three assists, and two steals in 16 minutes in a 121–114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On January 8, 2021, against the New Orleans Pelicans, Ball and his brother Lonzo played in their first regulation game against each other at any level. Ball helped rally the Hornets from an 18-point deficit to a 118–110 win. He narrowly missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
On January 9, at the age of 19 years old and 140 days, he became the youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double, putting up 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 113–105 win against the Atlanta Hawks, a record that would later be broken by Josh Giddey.
On January 30, Ball recorded a then career-high 27 points, along with five rebounds, nine assists, and four steals in a 126–114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. For his performance in December and January, Ball was awarded with Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 12.2 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals over his first 21 games in the NBA.
On February 1, Ball made the first start of his career in a 129–121 victory over the Miami Heat. He finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. On February 5, Ball recorded a then career-high 34 points, along with eight assists, four rebounds, two steals, and one block in a 138–121 loss to the Utah Jazz. He also became the youngest player in franchise history to record a 30-point game. He was named Rookie of the Month again for February after averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 13 games.
On March 21, Ball suffered a fractured bone in his right wrist in a loss against the Los Angeles Clippers and was listed as out indefinitely.
On May 1, Ball made his return from injury and went on to be selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and chosen as the 2020–21 NBA Rookie of the Year.
During his second season in the NBA, Ball matched his career-high seven three-pointers, while putting up 31 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in a 123–122 win over Indiana in Charlottes season opener. On November 17, Ball put up 11 points and a career-high 14 assists in a 97–87 win over the Washington Wizards. On February 2, 2022, Ball recorded a career-high 38 points, along with nine assists and five rebounds, in a 113–107 loss to the Boston Celtics. On February 7, Ball was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Kevin Durant.
Ahead of the 2022–23 NBA season, Ball changed his jersey number from the number 2 to the number 1. On February 13, 2023, Ball recorded 30 points, six rebounds, and a career-high-tying 15 assists in a 144–138 win over the Atlanta Hawks. He also became the first player in Hornets history to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and 15 assists in a game. On February 16, Ball had 28 points, 10 assists and a season-high 12 rebounds in a 120–110 win over the San Antonio Spurs where he became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in his career (behind LeBron James).
On February 27, during a 117–106 win over the Detroit Pistons, Ball suffered a non-contact right ankle injury. After the game, the Hornets announced that he had fractured his ankle and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
On July 6, 2023, Ball signed a contract extension with the Hornets. On November 5, he recorded his first triple-double since his injury, finishing with 30 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds in a loss to Dallas (118-124).
Ball played 303 games in the NBA. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- November 18, 2020: Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 2020 NBA Draft.
-
November 30, 2020: Signed a multi-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 88% | 99% | 95% | 45% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 75 | 201 | 37.3% | 20 | 82 | 24.4% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 24 | Charlotte | PG | 72 | 69 | 2017 | 1445 | 347 | 514 | 65 | 282 | 87 | 17 | 202 | 195 | 506 | 1244 | 41% | 272 | 740 | 37% | 161 | 179 | 90% | 55% | 52% |
| 2024-25 | 23 | Charlotte | PG | 47 | 47 | 1505 | 1184 | 232 | 346 | 47 | 185 | 54 | 13 | 167 | 157 | 406 | 1003 | 40% | 179 | 528 | 34% | 193 | 229 | 84% | 54% | 49% |
| 2023-24 | 22 | Charlotte | PG | 22 | 22 | 711 | 526 | 113 | 176 | 29 | 84 | 40 | 4 | 83 | 79 | 183 | 423 | 43% | 70 | 197 | 36% | 90 | 104 | 87% | 56% | 52% |
| 2022-23 | 21 | Charlotte | PG | 36 | 36 | 1268 | 838 | 231 | 304 | 42 | 189 | 46 | 11 | 129 | 118 | 296 | 721 | 41% | 144 | 383 | 38% | 102 | 122 | 84% | 54% | 51% |
| 2021-22 | 20 | Charlotte | PG | 75 | 75 | 2422 | 1508 | 501 | 571 | 108 | 393 | 119 | 30 | 245 | 237 | 538 | 1254 | 43% | 220 | 565 | 39% | 212 | 243 | 87% | 55% | 52% |
| 2020-21 | 19 | Charlotte | PG | 51 | 31 | 1469 | 803 | 302 | 313 | 63 | 239 | 81 | 18 | 145 | 136 | 293 | 672 | 44% | 92 | 261 | 35% | 125 | 165 | 76% | 54% | 50% | Total | 303 | 280 | 9392 | 6304 | 1726 | 2224 | 354 | 1372 | 427 | 93 | 971 | 922 | 2222 | 5317 | 42% | 977 | 2674 | 37% | 883 | 1042 | 85% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 24 | Charlotte | PG | 72 | 69 | 28.0 | 20.1 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 7.0 | 17.3 | 41% | 3.8 | 10.3 | 37% | 2.2 | 2.5 | 90% | 55% | 52% |
| 2024-25 | 23 | Charlotte | PG | 47 | 47 | 32.0 | 25.2 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 8.6 | 21.3 | 40% | 3.8 | 11.2 | 34% | 4.1 | 4.9 | 84% | 54% | 49% |
| 2023-24 | 22 | Charlotte | PG | 22 | 22 | 32.3 | 23.9 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 19.2 | 43% | 3.2 | 9.0 | 36% | 4.1 | 4.7 | 87% | 56% | 52% |
| 2022-23 | 21 | Charlotte | PG | 36 | 36 | 35.2 | 23.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 8.2 | 20.0 | 41% | 4.0 | 10.6 | 38% | 2.8 | 3.4 | 84% | 54% | 51% |
| 2021-22 | 20 | Charlotte | PG | 75 | 75 | 32.3 | 20.1 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 7.2 | 16.7 | 43% | 2.9 | 7.5 | 39% | 2.8 | 3.2 | 87% | 55% | 52% |
| 2020-21 | 19 | Charlotte | PG | 51 | 31 | 28.8 | 15.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 5.7 | 13.2 | 44% | 1.8 | 5.1 | 35% | 2.5 | 3.2 | 76% | 54% | 50% | Total | 303 | 280 | 31.0 | 20.8 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 7.3 | 17.5 | 42% | 3.2 | 8.8 | 37% | 2.9 | 3.4 | 85% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
A former UCLA commit, he was a five-star recruit but chose to forgo college basketball amid eligibility concerns.
On December 11, 2017, Ball signed with Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) with his brother, LiAngelo. Ball reportedly became the youngest American to ever sign a professional basketball contract.
Prienai withdrew from the Baltic Basketball League upon their arrival and took part in various exhibition games sponsored by Big Baller Brand. On January 13, 2018, Ball made his professional debut, going scoreless in five minutes against Lietkabelis. On February 4, he scored a season-high 19 points, with four three-pointers and six assists, in a loss to Žalgiris.
In an exhibition game toward the end of the month, he suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for a month before returning to the USA with the Ball family. After leaving, Balls father criticised the teams head coach Virginijus Šeškus, in part because Ball did not receive enough playing time. Ball finished the LKL season averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 assists, shooting 26.8 percent from the field, in 12.8 minutes per game.
AWARDS
- NBL Rookie Of The Year (2020)
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com