LaVar Ball tells TMZ Sports ... LaMelo WILL BE the owner of his Australian hoops team -- and the Big Baller says the plan is to deck out the squad in BBB gear head to toe once it's official!
Papa Ball spoke with us this week about his youngest son's plan to buy the NBL's Illawarra Hawks ... and says despite some snags with the deal last week -- the purchase is still going down.
In fact, LaVar says he's SUPER proud of his 18-year-old boy for the move .