OKC Thunder draft prospect profile: LaMelo Ball

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer lists Jason Williams, Lonzo Ball, Shaun Livingston as the most logical comparisons.

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If you were fortunate to witness Jason Williams in his prime it was a treat and if not pull up any of his youtube highlight films showcasing his mastery on the court.

While his dimes were jaw-dropping worthy unlike Ball, Williams wasn’t doing it simply to impress the crowd. Rather, Williams always left you with the impression the score and win were what mattered and he recognized time and place.

OKC Thunder fit:

Like many of these top prospects, Ball won’t be in the mix for the OKC Thunder even if he drops down the board.

There is no denying LaMelo has immediately transferable skills but he’s not a player Sam Presti would necessarily want on his roster especially if the goal is to rebuild.

The trio of youngsters comprised of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Darius Bazley are all hard workers and highly professional.

And while they aren’t likely to be influenced by a rookie there isn’t the need to mess with that chemistry or the established culture the Thunder took great effort to establish.

That’s not to say LaMelo won’t end up being one of the best players in this class — I simply wasn’t impressed by his character in that media session and based on the recent scuttlebutt regarding him dropping down the ladder his character is obviously taking a hit heading into the draft.