As we get closer to the 2020 NBA Draft on November 18th players are starting to interview with teams and conduct their pre-draft workouts. One of the projected top 3 picks, Illawara PG LaMelo Ball, has started his interviews. According to Rick Bonnell of The Observer, they aren’t going well.
LaMelo Ball is reportedly 'not performing well' in interviews, per @rick_bonnell
"LaMelo Ball is not performing very well at job interviews. I’ve heard that from multiple sources. He is not improving his perception via job interview."
(Via 102.5 FM WFNZ | h/t lonzowire) pic.twitter.com/4MTTvdze7K
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) October 29, 2020
This is something that could see him slipping in the draft. While his talent is there teams may pass on him due to his character. Bonnell continued by saying,
“There are people drafting later in the top ten who were not preparing for the possibility of Ball still being around and, I’m not saying that he will be a top three pick, I am saying that I know for a fact that there are teams later in the top ten who are doing more research on him because they no longer think it’s a given he will.”
That’s big news for someone who was regarded as a top 3 pick. LaMelo’s family is well known in the basketball world. Ever since LaMelo’s brother, Pelicans Guard Lonzo Ball was drafted in 2017 they have made sure their name is known. LaMelo’s father, LaVar Ball had a lot to say once his son was drafted and gave his family a sour reputation within the league. This is why LaMelo doing poorly in interviews should be seen as a red flag. Lonzo did a good job of distancing himself from his father and making his own career. While LaVar hasn’t been in headlines much we have to think that LaMelo’s interviewing skills were gained from his dad.
Bulls are going to get their own look at him
It has been reported that the Bulls will likely workout Ball next week to evaluate him.
#Bulls are expected to meet with LaMelo Ball likely next week. No workout is expected. Its been reported by multiple sources that Ball has not performed well in interviews with teams. I still think he's a top 3 pick, but it will be interesting to see what happens if he drops. https://t.co/XxHvIgvskl
— Carlos Douglas Jr. (@TheRealC_Los) October 29, 2020
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and General Manager Marc Eversley will get their chance to see his skills and assess him as a player and a person. These two don’t appear to be people who will put up with nonsense so their evaluation will be big.
With the news of LaMelo doing poorly in interviews that would most likely mean that he would slip in the draft. The Bulls are picking at the #4 spot and he may be available when their turn comes around.
The Bulls should pass on LaMelo
Even if LaMelo is still available the Bulls should go ahead and pass on him. Take a look at this article if you would like to see my in-depth reasoning as to why they shouldn’t take Ball. I was already not on the LaMelo train before this news came out. I’m definitely even further removed now. He appears to be someone who’s attitude is going to get in the way of their talent.
If the guy can’t even get through interviews without being perceived poorly how is he going to work well in a locker room? The Ball family has had an arrogance surrounding them the entire time they’ve been in the basketball realm. LaMelo could certainly have some of that arrogance and going into an NBA locker room with that isn’t going to work out too well. Let someone else pick up LaMelo and instead find the right fit for this team. How about they bring someone in who isn’t already having character issues ahead of the draft. The Bulls need to do themselves a favor and pass on Ball if he’s still around.
