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

The NBA has fined Hornets star LaMelo Ball $100,000 for making anti-gay comments during an interview after Charlotte's 115-114 home win over the struggling Bucks on Saturday.

Ball was talking about the last play of the game. Grant Williams defended Giannis Antetokounmpo at the top of the key and tucked in a contested jumper for the win, but it missed the front of the rim.

“We've been building up,” Ball said, adding in a low voice: “There are no homos.”

The NBA issued a statement on a sunny Sunday saying Ball made “offensive and derogatory comments” after the game.

Ball, who has battled injuries throughout his career since winning Rookie of the Year, is in the early stages of his career and averaged 29.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his first 12 games, helping Charlotte score five points. 7 records.

Since being selected No. 3 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Ball has played in more than 51 games just once in his career, appearing in 75 games in 2021-22 and making the only All-Star Game appearance of his career. . .

However, over the next two years, Ball appeared in only 58 games in total, and missed the remainder of the 2023-24 season after injuring his ankle during a game in January.

Head coach Charles Lee: “He's like an engine for us'' told reporters Ball won the season opener on October 23, scoring 34 points and dishing out 11 assists. “If we have a healthy LaMelo Ball, we're going to do a lot of really good things because he's going to continue to get better and he's going to keep everyone around him getting better. Because I know it will help you.”

The Hornets will be looking for their first loss of the season when they face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday.