The 18-year-old American, who joined Illawarra as part of the NBL's Next Stars program and is widely tipped to be the No.1 pick in the next NBA draft, has averaged 17 points, seven assists and seven rebounds for the bottom-of-the-table Hawks, but he hasn't played since November 30.

The club says the point guard will continue his rehabilitation to include court-based activity under the care of the Hawks medical team.

"It's important that he makes a return to full fitness ahead of the NBA draft and we will do everything we can to support that and his aim to become the number one pick," NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said.

"LaMelo has enjoyed an excellent season and there is no doubt his draft prospects have been firmly enhanced by his time playing in the NBL."

From the time of the injury there was always a suggestion he might not play again in the NBL in order to protect him for the NBA draft.

On December 22, Ball's father LaVar told SBS he had advised his son to resume playing if he was 100 per cent fit.

"We have to think of his career and his longevity and be smart about things," he said.

Ball started setting records from his first match with the Hawks.

He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals, becoming the first player to have a double-double with five assists and no turnovers on debut, with the match attracting one million views on Facebook.

An early-season clash with the Breakers in October was the most-watched game in NBL history, with nearly two million views on Facebook and an estimated five million views on highlights from the game shared on social media.

Ball helped draw big crowds, including a league record 17,514 for the Hawks' November away clash against the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena.

While his shooting percentage wasn't great in his first few games, Ball got better as the season progressed, seemingly relishing the extra responsibility after former NBA guard Aaron Brooks left the club with a torn achilles tendon in late October.

He became the first player in the 40-minute NBL era to record a triple double in consecutive games, in what turned out to be his last two appearances for the Hawks.

Ball bagged 32 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in his second last game against Cairns, in the process becoming the youngest player in NBL history achieve a triple-double.

He followed up with another mammoth performance in his last game, tallying 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Breakers.

Ball has impressed with his work ethic, even hitting the gym at 2am to put up shots.

He recently donated a month of his salary to bushfire relief.

Australian Associated Press