Potential No. 1 NBA draft pick LaMelo Ball will miss about four weeks with a foot injury, sources told ESPN. Ball suffered a bruised foot in practice last week and was prescribed to rest by an Australian foot specialist he visited, which will likely keep him out of action until January.
The 18-year-old Ball has had a major impact for the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian NBL thus far, averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 31 minutes per game, improving his draft stock significantly in the process. Ball will rehab his injury in Australia and is expected to make a full recovery and continue to play for Illawarra as they close out the regular season in mid-February.
Decision makers from several NBA teams were expected to be in Australia in the coming weeks to evaluate both him and fellow projected lottery pick RJ Hampton, who plays for the New Zealand Breakers, with the two scheduled to play each other for the third time on December 22nd.
Hampton will miss the Breakers game tonight against Brisbane with a hip flexor injury, a source told ESPN, and will be day to day after that.
The majority of NBA general managers have not yet evaluated Ball in person and will likely need to reschedule their visits to Australia until January when he will make a full recovery.
Source : ESPN
