Report: LaMelo Ball Considered 'Overrated' and 'Underrated' Because of Last Name

LaMelo Ball is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in the 2020 NBA draft class, but his name has reportedly played a big role in how he is viewed.

According to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, NBA executives have referred to Ball as both underrated and overrated, primarily because of his last name.

Ball is the younger brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and the son of LaVar Ball, who has made headlines in recent years because of his outspokenness regarding his sons, his outlandish opinions and his Big Baller Brand company.

LaMelo originally committed to play college basketball at UCLA, like Lonzo, but he instead decided to play professionally in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks. Ball played well, and the decision may have helped to solidify him as one of the top picks in the draft.

In 12 games in the NBL, the 18-year-old averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.6 steals, proving himself to be one of the most versatile and talented players in his class.

There is no question that there are more eyes on LaMelo than most draft prospects because of the family he comes from, but it is difficult to say whether that is a positive or a negative for him. Perhaps more teams will be willing to give him a chance since he comes from a talented basketball family, but his stock could also be hurt by the fact that Lonzo has yet to live up to expectations.

Lonzo was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, but after two injury-riddled seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was traded to the Pelicans in the deal that landed L.A. Anthony Davis.

In three NBA campaigns, Lonzo has appeared in 155 games and owns averages of 10.9 points, 6.6 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.7 turnovers. He has also shot just 39.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc.

While there are some similarities between the brothers' games, LaMelo is seemingly a more explosive athlete and a better playmaker than his older brother. But he is far less developed on the defensive end.

Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman ranked LaMelo as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2020 NBA draft on his latest big board and predicted in his latest mock draft that Ball will go third overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ball is undoubtedly in the mix to go first overall, but to be taken there he will have to fight against preconceived notions and several other highly touted prospects, including Anthony Edwards, Deni Avdija, James Wiseman, Obi Toppin and Killian Hayes.