Former Warriors Star Hails Top NBA Draft Prospect LaMelo Ball

The 2020 NBA draft is almost here! There are several talented prospects lined up, and it will all unfold in November. One among the projected top picks is LaMelo Ball, who’s already proven his talent in a professional Australian league. He’s extremely skilled, and here’s a former Golden State Warriors star’s assessment from playing against LaMelo in the NBL.

LaMelo will land in the Top 3 picks, and it will be surprising to see if he drops below that. His possible landing destination remains a mystery. However, it is a story that’s already made the rounds. But not every day do we get to see a scouting report of LaMelo, especially from a #1 draft NBA draft pick!

We’re talking about Andrew Bogut, who was picked first in the 2005 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Though Bogut did not leave a lasting impression on the league, he won the 2015 championship with the Golden State Warriors. 

He moved to the NBL in 2018, and in the subsequent season, LaMelo Ball came in as a rookie and signed with the Illawarra Hawks. Naturally, Bogut met Ball as an opponent, and here’s what to say about the young talent from their brief meetings in the NBL:

“He has a chance to be a very good pro,” Bogut told Wes Goldberg of the Bay Area News Group. “His playmaking ability, when we played him, he seemed to make the right decisions every time down the floor.”

Ball won NBL Rookie of the Year, owing to his impressive averages of 17.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 6.8 APG. He’s a talented youngster, but Bogut feels he’s yet to sharpen his defensive skills. 

Can the Golden State Warriors benefit from a player like LaMelo? 

The Warriors have the priceless #2 pick in their hands, hoping to land a talented star in the draft. Andrew Bogut spent four years with the Bay team, winning a ring during the process. Here’s what he had to say about LaMelo’s skills on the defensive end. 

“He obviously is very talented on the offensive end, just needs to step up defensively, but that’s probably just being a kid that’s never been taught defensive principles at 19 years old, so you got to give him the benefit of the doubt on that,” Bogut said.

“With six months to a year in an NBA system with some good coaching, I think they’ll clean up a lot of those deficiencies.”

The Golden State Warriors will have a tough time deciding on whom to pick in the upcoming draft. James Wiseman is a talented center who can stick with the Bay team and thrive under them. On the other hand, LaMelo is a gifted PG who will certainly look to make a mark as a rookie.