LaMelo Ball to miss 4 weeks in Australian league with bruised foot
Ball suffered a bruised foot in practice with the the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian NBL last week and was prescribed to rest by a 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 Illawarra 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 the Hawks 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 Dec. 22.
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.