NBA fines Hornets star LaMelo Ball $100K for anti-gay comment during postgame interview

Charlotte Hornets prima LaMelo Ball was fined $100,000 by the NBA for an anti-gay remark helium made during his postgame interview. 

The Hornets upset the Milwaukee Bucks, 115-114, arsenic Ball deed the game-winning escaped throws connected Saturday. 

But erstwhile helium discussed that past play of the game, wherever teammate Grant Williams defended Giannis Antetokounmpo’s last-ditch effort for the win, Ball dropped an anti-gay remark during his explanation. 

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Charlotte Hornets defender LaMelo Ball shoots implicit Milwaukee Bucks defender Delon Wright during the 2nd fractional astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

"We loaded up," Ball said, adding the operation "no homo" with a lowered dependable into the microphone earlier continuing to talk. 

Ball finished the crippled with a team-high 26 points on with 9 rebounds and six assists. 

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The NBA released a connection connected Ball’s fine, saying helium made "an violative and derogatory comment" during his interview. 

Ball has been having a vocation twelvemonth truthful acold this season, averaging adjacent to 30 points per crippled (29.6) portion dishing retired 6.3 assists and hauling successful 5.3 rebounds done 12 games.

Charlotte Hornets defender LaMelo Ball drives to the handbasket portion guarded by Milwaukee Bucks defender Andre Jackson Jr. during the 2nd fractional astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

The 2020 Rookie of the Year is hoping that this play is the 1 helium tin enactment connected the tribunal afloat time; helium has dealt with galore injuries implicit the past 3 seasons. 

In fact, Ball’s highest games played full since the 2022-2023 run is 36. 

"He’s similar the motor for us," Charles Lee, the Hornets’ caput coach, said successful October. "If we person a steadfast LaMelo Ball, we’re going to bash a batch of truly bully things due to the fact that I cognize that he’s going to proceed to grow, and helium helps everyone astir him proceed to beryllium better, too."

Charlotte Hornets defender LaMelo Ball is shown during the 2nd fractional against the Milwaukee Bucks astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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While Ball was fined, helium isn’t expected to beryllium suspended for his comments aft Saturday’s win.

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