Lamelo Ball has come a long way from the wild style of Chino Hills, but Lavar Ball’s prediction may be finally coming true.
On ESPN’s The Jump, top prospect Lamelo Ball was interviewed Rachel Nichols, and a possible slip up might have occurred live on air. Rachel asks if Lamelo and his older brother Lonzo Ball (Number 2 pick in the 2017 NBA draft) talked about the possibility of LaMelo being drafted higher. His response was interesting.
…The most we ever [talk] about, is just our jersey numbers. Say he’s picked number two, and he wears number two. I wear number one, and I was picked one…
During this response it sounds like Rachel Nichols is whispering to someone on the production staff to clarify this comment. “Did he just say…?” It is unclear what was actually said, but it seems like LaMelo Ball may have been told by someone in the Minnesota Timberwolves organization, that they will be taking him with the first overall selection in the 2020 NBA draft.
The news isn’t all that surprising though as the elite prospects are usually told beforehand, or have a good feeling on what team is going to draft them. The aforementioned Lonzo Ball, only worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers during his pre draft process. He was selected by the Lakers, even though they had the second pick. It was a possibility that he could have went first to the Philadelphia 76ers, but it seems clear that Markelle Fultz was indeed the number one pick. A perfect example is the 2006 NFL draft when Mario Williams inked a deal a day before the draft. Though this may be only possible for the team that possesses the number one pick.
The 2020 NBA draft is tomorrow 11/18/2020, only time will tell if this was just confidence or an unexpected slip. (2:00 mark)
