American teenage basketball prodigy LaMelo Ball is still keen on buying the Illawarra Hawks and is just awaiting word from the NBL.
Ball's father, LaVar Ball, said on Thursday the 18-year-old is "ready, willing and able" to purchase the team.
"We are just waiting to see what they (NBL) say," LaVar told AAP on Thursday.
LaMelo, one of the likely top three picks in the June 25 NBA Draft, was the Hawks' star signing last season.
The NBL confirmed earlier this month LaMelo and his management "had discussions about being involved with the club while he was playing in the NBL last season".
The league also said Illawarra's current licence holder Simon Stratford was working on a number of options.
LaVar said the COVID-19 pandemic's quarantine and border restrictions had slowed talks.
"He is interested in buying the Hawks," LaVar said. "One of the things I told my boys is ownership is a big thing."
LaVar also rejected talk the NBL's Next Stars program would die after the NBA last week announced a new NBA G League pathway program that would pay elite teenagers $US500,000, up from $US125,000 last year, to stay in the US.
"I don't think it is dead," LaVar said.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim beefed up the G League contracts after LaMelo and another US teenage star, RJ Hampton, agreed to play in the NBL.
LaVar says the G League can't offer all of the top young players contracts, leaving the NBL opportunities to recruit.
"Just say the G League gets 12 players, there's another group of players out there who haven't been asked and the NBL might be like, 'How about you come over to Australia?'," he said.
"They will be like, 'Well, the G League didn't ask me so I'll go to Australia'."
Australian basketball fans will have a chance to chat to LaVar next Tuesday (3am AEST) when he holds a "virtual pop-up shop" for his Big Baller Brand shoes and other products.
People who place orders of $US60 ($A92) or more will get their merchandise signed by LaVar and be invited to the Zoom video virtual meet and greet.
The event will also be streamed live on the Big Baller Brand Facebook page.
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May 01, 2020 at 07:04AM
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LaMelo Ball still keen to buy NBL's Hawks - ESPN
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