NBA fines Hornets’ LaMelo Ball $100,000 for ‘derogatory comment’

The NBA has fined Hornets star LaMelo Ball $100,000 after he made an anti-gay comment during an interview following Charlotte’s 115-114 win over the struggling Bucks at home Saturday.

Ball had talked about the final play of the game, in which Grant Williams successfully defended Giannis Antetokounmpo at the top of the key and forced a contested jumper for the win — which missed the front of the rim.

“We loaded,” Ball said, before adding “no homo” as he lowered his voice.

The NBA released a statement during their beautiful Sunday, saying Ball made “an offensive and derogatory comment” after the game.

Ball, who has battled injuries throughout his career after winning the Rookie of the Year award, is in the early stages of a career year, averaging 29.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5, 3 rebounds in the first twelve games while helping Charlotte reach a 5-point score. 7 recording.

Since being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Ball has played in more than 51 games just once in his career. He played in 75 games during the 2021-2022 season and earned the only All-Star Game title of his career. .

However, Ball only logged 58 combined games in the two years that followed, and in 2023–24 he suffered an ankle injury in a January game and missed the remainder of the year.

“He’s like the engine for us,” head coach Charles Lee told reporters after their season-opening victory on Oct. 23, when Ball scored 34 points and dished out 11 assists. “If we have a healthy LaMelo Ball, we’re going to do a lot of good things because I know he’ll continue to grow and he’ll help everyone around him get better as well.”

The Hornets face the Cavaliers on Sunday in Cleveland and will look to hand them their first loss of the season.