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Timberwolves Insider Says LaMelo Ball’s ‘President’ Answer Factored Into 2020 No. 1 Pick

A team reporter said the response was one of many considerations in Minnesota’s evaluation during a no-consensus 2020 draft.

Overview

  • Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said on The Zach Lowe Show that LaMelo Ball answered “I want to be President of the United States” when asked about post-career plans in a 2020 pre-draft interview.
  • Krawczynski characterized the interview as poor and said it was one of several reasons the Timberwolves opted for Anthony Edwards with the first pick.
  • Golden State selected James Wiseman at No. 2 and Charlotte took Ball at No. 3, a sequence now revisited as career paths have diverged.
  • Edwards has become a multi-time All-Star and All-NBA selection who led Minnesota to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, while Ball won Rookie of the Year and made an early All-Star team but has lost significant time to injuries.
  • An outlet estimated Ball’s drop to third cut early-career earnings by roughly $15.7 million, an analysis based on contract figures rather than a definitive accounting.