LaMelo Ball Fined for Obscene Gesture

Charlotte Hornets standout LaMelo Ball was fined recently for an inappropriate gesture made during a game. This incident unfolded during a matchup against the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Ball attempted a floater toward the basket but was penalized for charging instead.

In response, he raised his middle finger at the referee, which led to a hefty fine of $35,000. This moment occurred with just over four minutes left in the game, which ended in a 144-117 loss for Charlotte.

It’s worth noting that Ball has had run-ins with the league before. Last season, he was fined a significant amount, around $100,000, after making derogatory remarks in a postgame interview. After hitting the winning free throw against the Milwaukee Bucks, he made an unfortunate anti-gay comment while discussing the game, which drew criticism.

Additionally, Ball has racked up fines for technical fouls and even a flop during a game in January 2024. Despite these issues, he has managed to play in 110 games since the 2022-23 season and proven to be an impactful player when on the court.

This season, he is averaging 24.4 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game. Last year, he hit new personal bests, scoring 25.2 points, assisting 7.4 times, and grabbing 4.9 rebounds per game.