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lamelo ball scouting report
vitals:
height: 6'7-6'8
weight: 180lbs
wingspan: 6'10.5
age: 19
2019-20 NBL stats
17.0 ppg
7.6 rpg
6.8 apg
1.6 spg
0.1 bpg
2.5 tovpg
37.5 fg%
25.0 3pt%
72.3 ft%
in 12 total games played (season cut short due to bone bruise in left foot)
vitals:
height: 6'7-6'8
weight: 180lbs
wingspan: 6'10.5
age: 19
2019-20 NBL stats
17.0 ppg
7.6 rpg
6.8 apg
1.6 spg
0.1 bpg
2.5 tovpg
37.5 fg%
25.0 3pt%
72.3 ft%
in 12 total games played (season cut short due to bone bruise in left foot)
lamelo ball is an interesting case, he's definitely very talented and will most likely be a good player but he's definitely not the can't-miss prospect that people make him out to be. he's a good player and can help a team but his game has a lot of red flags when you look closer.
if there's one thing about lamelo, it's that the game comes extremely easy to him, he plays with a fluidity and a smoothness of a seasoned veteran despite being only 19 years old. basketball just comes easy to him and that might be due to the fact that he has family in the nba
another potentially positive thing about lamelo is his confidence, he definitely does not lack in that department and is very sure of himself. he has also made himself more coachable and less of a headcase as before, his attitude has definitely improved from past years.
however, some of the issues are still there as he does tend to get nonchalant at times and quite overconfident too. time will tell if this hurts his nba career, i do think he'll put it together, however we're damn sure his infamous father lavar, isn't doing him any favors at all.
now we get to the actual basketball part. for starters, given his impressive height (6'7 pg), i'm surprised at how much ball shies away from contact at the rim and does not handle physicality very well when he gets to the rim. you think he'd take bumps well but it's the opposite.
now we get to his shot, or lack thereof. don't let the highlights fool you because lamelo ball's jumpshot is basically broken, imagine telling someone from 2017 that the kid that hit the half court shot at chino is currently shooting 25% from 3 on near 7 takes a game. surprising.
his midrange game is also basically nonexistent and since he can't really blow past his man on offense a lot, he's forced to settle for deep threes a lot of the time, and his shot mechanics definitely need work to say the least. ball's overconfidence with his shot might haunt him
about his shot for a bit, while it's definitely quick, his odd hand placement and rather low release doesn't help him a lot as it causes his elbows to go AWOL. his jumper looks an awful lot like a chest pass to the rim at times, with a start on his lower left side moving right
his mechanics are also VERY inconsistent, sometimes his toes point sideways, sometimes they're square to the rim, sometimes he kicks his legs and sometimes he barely leaves the ground, similar to a set shot. given this, it's not insane to think inconsistent mechanics haunt him.
now we get to his defense which is best described as...questionable. he's very sluggish on that end but has good potential based on his size and length but needs to put effort in, i hope that whatever team takes a chance on him has a defensive minded assistant that can mentor him
however, the best thing about lamelo ball, and this is the reason why a lot of teams will overlook the evident flaws in his game, is his elite playmaking, his impressive height allows him to make passes and see angles that others can't. definitely a very good playmaker at least.
ball is also very fluid and creative as a ballhandler, his feel for the game helps here and probably stems from the fact that he's been playing some sort of professional basketball since he was sixteen basically. definitely the type of dynamic player you'd want for your offense.
another positive for ball is that he makes some plays seem effortless, if you watched him at highschool you'd see the makings of this even back then. he's a very smooth player and can sometimes break you down off the dribble. ballhandling and playmaking are his ticket to success.
another plus for lamelo ball is that, while he does shy away from contact at the rim a bit too much, he isn't exactly bad around the basket either, he actually has quite a nice touch around the rim and at 6'7, he can make finishes most players at his position can't. huge positive
the final thing i'll touch on when it comes to ball is size. depending on where you look, lamelo stands at either 6'7 or 6'8. this impressive size for a point guard allows him to see key angles and make plays other guys at his position can't and increases his defensive potential.
HOWEVER, this solid height comes with a warning. despite standing at around 6'7, ball is rather scrawny at only 185lbs, this most likely explains his problems at finishing with contact against rim protectors. expect his nba coaches to help him bulk up for a long, physical season.
a big thing to take in mind with ball is his improvements. a few years ago he was being written off as a long shot for the nba and now he's in talks for a potential top 3 draft selection, this type of improvement both on but also off the court is definitely a huge plus for him.
as far as nba comparisons go, it's tough as he's definitely a unique player
however for some comparisons i'd go: mavs jason kidd, rafer alston, jason williams, michael carter williams(?), discount penny hardaway, shaun livingston, and his brother lonzo as well just to name a few
however for some comparisons i'd go: mavs jason kidd, rafer alston, jason williams, michael carter williams(?), discount penny hardaway, shaun livingston, and his brother lonzo as well just to name a few
lamelo ball is definitely a risky pick and any team that decides to take a chance on him needs to know what exactly they're getting themselves into and how he can help, and potentially hurt their team, time will tell if he shines and becomes a star. i, of course wish him the best
to summarize, lamelo ball is a very hit or miss prospect, the upside is definitely there with the elite playmaking, finishing potential, and impressive height, but the negatives are evident too, with the lack of defensive effort, inconsistant jumper, and possible overconfidence.
as for teams that i think should try to take a chance on him, really any team that needs a primary ballhandler and doesn't need elite shooting and defense at the guard slot, so possibly the knicks, pistons, maybe the bulls as well. the warriors and cavs shouldn't touch him at all
pros:
very solid ballhander and very fluid motion
game comes easy to him
height and wingspan big plus for a pg
elite playmaker
solid touch around rim
cons:
inconsistant shot/mechanics
lazy defender
might have an attitude/overconfidence problem
not very good dealing with contact
very solid ballhander and very fluid motion
game comes easy to him
height and wingspan big plus for a pg
elite playmaker
solid touch around rim
cons:
inconsistant shot/mechanics
lazy defender
might have an attitude/overconfidence problem
not very good dealing with contact
best nba comparisons as of right now:
rafer alston
jason williams
rookie jason kidd
downgraded penny hardaway
shaun livingston out of high school
michael carter williams
lonzo ball
ricky rubio
rafer alston
jason williams
rookie jason kidd
downgraded penny hardaway
shaun livingston out of high school
michael carter williams
lonzo ball
ricky rubio
thread finished! let me know your thoughts in the comments, make sure to tag some friends so they can see this as well. make sure to leave any suggestions in the comments and some criticisms if you have any, i'm always open to listen, thank you for your time and have a good day!
