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NBL put on big stage after import LaMelo taken by Charlotte with third pick in 2020 NBA draft

Murray WenzelAAP
VideoNBA: Ahead of the NBA draft a number of big names have already been traded, including the likes of Chris Paul to the Suns and Jrue Holiday to the Bucks.

NBL import LaMelo Ball was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the third pick in the 2020 NBA draft in a move that put the Australian league up in lights.

Ball opted to bypass the traditional American college pathway and play a professional season with the Illawarra Hawks in Australia as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

The Hawks struggled to compete but Ball had his moments, becoming the youngest player to register an NBL triple-double and the only player to do it in back-to- back games in a high-profile 12-game stint cut short by injury.

The 19-year-old is the highest pick to enter the NBA directly out of the NBL, trumping former Australian centre Chris Anstey who was taken with selection No.18 in the 1997 draft by Portland.

Shooting guard Anthony Edwards was taken as the No.1 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, while centre James Wiseman went second to the Golden State Warriors.

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