Not winning is detrimental to him staying, fair or not. People WILL look at how his team is performing, as well as him individually. He should have signed with a Perth or Brisbane or SEM Phoenix or even Melbourne United, so he could be in a successful program as well as showcase his talents globally. Even Adelaide, with the style Joey likes to play, would have been a much more sound position for him. I understand why the NBL may have wanted him in Illawarra, but having people see this Hawks team and making a judgement on the NBL based on that is not a strong endorsement.

Leaving Illawarra in ruin.

I would leave that trash ass team too

I hope for the Hawks' and the League's sake that Ball stays the whole season.

But it would be understandable if he left early, what is in it for him? I think he has established himself as a lottery pick, but doubtful it would be #1 at this stage.

If he does leave the Hawks have to take much of the blame, barring the Brooks injury, the situation at the Hawks are their own doing. Poor selection of coach and players, and putting everything on Ball and his 'development' as the drawcard for the season is on them.

"Not winning is detrimental to him staying, fair or not. People WILL look at how his team is performing"

Unless you're an NBA scout or executive, you have no idea what you're talking about on the matter.

He's a class above all hawks players, in talent and game sense, hope he stays but can understand why both parties could be happy with this result. Hawks try get on with trying to build something and Ball moving to nba draft. We will all be able to look back when he’s a star with fond memories.

Bring back Jordair Jett's fat ass, at least he led this Hawks team to some wins last year.

RJs father has said again recently they're in it till the last game. I think they’re focused on getting him as much experience against men as a means to helping him develop. Based on what I’ve seen so far, he is developing. And there’s no one in College that would have disrupted him late game like Cotton and Martin did, and no team that would have him chase Cotton and White over screens like he had to.

Melo, however, is fickle and the Hawks situation isn’t great either.

Good riddance I say to Lamelo, the circus is a joke with the NBL guaranteeing him minutes. I know he has brought in money for the Hawks & NBL but he is not that good
Can't play defence
Poor shot selection
Can’t run a offence
Poor body language
R.J. is a way better player & has adapted way better into the Breakers systems

Lamelo is more talented than rj and will be the higher draft pick.

I still don't understand the Lamelo hate. The kid is the best and most talented player on that Hawks roster right now.

Inconsistent and can make bad decisions, but that was always expected from an 18yo. Some of that is also probably a product of how shit this hawks team is. It would have been good to see him on the Wildcats/Kings/Breakers. Hawks are really screwing this season up.

He may leave, but i don't think he will. Scouts are loving his attitude right now and i think walking away will hurt his stock and isn't a great look for his attitude.

As for the losing, it's not ideal. But don't forget he's going to likely get drafted to a shit lottery team. He might want to get used to it. Will be huge for his stock if can single handedly win the Hawks some games later in the year after he matures and gets more experience.

I wouldn't blame him if he goes, he didn’t come here for the money he has plenty of that, he was told it was the 2nd best league in the world. The NBL has a few decent imports but the majority of Australian players are trash. The fiba rules are trash and the home team advantage from the referee’s is blatantly obvious.
The NBL should steep in and come up with a solution to this problem the hawks are having atm then next year move the hawks to western Sydney if Illawarra has no money or interest in being a solid NBL team and then Illawarra can join nbl1 so they can develop players.
If melo leaves the biggest loser will be the NBL itself, no more cash flow and anyone that has pre purchased tickets to see melo around the country.
To the NBL, fix this before the its to late or the NBL will never grow to where you would like it.

Hawks are trash, didn't help with Brooks getting injured. Coach is no better than a assistant, and Ball can't shoot. So all that combined, of course he won't last the season. That record is not a good look for him and his brand. Im personally over the hype machine the NBL is trying to create with him. The honeymoon period is over, he's not a winner, he is flashy as hell, but that won't win games.... at any level. He isn't a true team player, so no surprise once the Hawks are mathematically done, his tin heart exits.

(His passing, from what I have seen, is very good, he just doesn't do enough of it, maybe cos he hasn't got enough options.)


It helps if your team mates can catch or play


(Blanchfield on the wing, and you have a halfway decent backcourt.)

Please Blanchfield is trash,

It's interesting because Mike Schultz is on ESPN calling him the most talented player in the draft but also saying the accompanying circus and questions about attitude and motivation are going to make it hard for anyone to take him #1.

Pulling out mid-way through the season of a league that isn't the 2nd-best in the world but is certainly respectable, would not help LaMelo answer the biggest questions about him right now.

It's pretty likely that there will be as much attention paid to what Lonzo does in NOLA this season as there is to what LaMelo does here. If Lonzo rights the ship, it sends the message that with a bit of maturity and separation from Lavar, the boys are capable of living up to their potential. If Lonzo continues to struggle, front offices will worry that LaMelo is going to have the same sorts of issues, and focus on lower-risk options.