While some hope had existed that LaMelo Ball could make his return sooner rather than later, it appears the Illawarra Hawk guard isn’t close to a return. DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony revealed on Friday that Ball was still in a walking boot and would remain in one for at least another two weeks.

Ball, ESPN’s No. 1 draft prospect for 2020, is still in a walking boot and on crutches as he has been instructed not to put any weight on his foot for at least another two weeks as he recovers from the bone bruise injury he suffered in practice in early December, sources told ESPN.

A simple look at Illawarra’s schedule would indicate that Ball may have already played his last game for the franchise. As Givony indicates, Ball will be in a walking boot for two more weeks then will need rehab before returning. Just the two-week timeline, though, would dwindle the Hawks’ schedule down to six games.

Add another week for rehab, a generous estimate, and it’s only five games. With Illawarra slipping further and further behind the pack in the league, it makes increasingly less sense for Ball to risk a long-term injury and return to the National Basketball League (NBL).

Instead, Ball will likely take his time rehabbing, return to full strength and be ready for individual workouts for teams come draft season. After a strong showing in the first half of the NBL campaign, one could hardly blame Ball for having his future in mind, particularly with Illawarra’s struggles this season even with Ball on the court.