NBL has a style where good passers will do well, it's not as stifling and lock down as Europe, but it still has a semblance of defence unlike NBA.
NBL has less length than NBA or Europe which is something La Melo has, and given his composure and intelligence, he was always more likely to do decently in the NBL than other types/style players.
That doesn't mean the NBL is bad, it means the NBL has a style pretty perfect for a young future NBA star. Someone like Ferguson, despite being a highly drafted player (albeit not #1) struggled more because he didn't have an elite pass on him yet, nor an elite shot to rely on, he had athleticism but that isn't conducive to the NBL if you're physically not strong enough to cope with the physicality of older players who can bump you off and prevent you getting anywhere. When you're young defence is tough, so suddenly you've got a player who can't contribute much (with consistency) defensively or offensively, you're less likely to achieve time in crucial minutes.
Good passers do well in the NBA too, as long as the team isn't an ISO style team. I'd expect La Melo to do well in particular NBA teams.
