Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has addressed his recent postgame comment that resulted in a $100,000 fine from the NBA.
After the Hornets lost 128-114 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ball, 23, told reporters he wanted to address the comment — which the NBA called “offensive and derogatory” in a statement Sunday, Nov. 17 — before a postgame interview.
“Before we get started, I just want to address a comment from yesterday. I really didn’t mean anything [by it] and I don’t want to offend anybody,” Ball said Sunday, per SI and The Athletic. “I have love for everybody and I don’t discriminate,” the Hornets guard added.
Ball made the comment during a live interview on the Hornets’ FanDuel Sports Network following their 115-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, Nov. 16, saying, “Yeah, we loaded up — no gays — but that’s what we wanted.”
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In a statement the next day, Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said Ball would be fined $100,000 for the “offensive and derogatory” comment.
LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 17, 2024.
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty
Hornets head coach Charles Lee was also asked about Ball’s comment after Sunday’s loss to Cleveland. Lee, 40, said: “As an organization, it’s obviously not something we condone,” and told reporters that the organization’s standards for the “environment” created by players are “really important.”
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Charlotte’s head coach said he spoke with Ball about the comment, assuring reporters that the NBA star is “obviously very apologetic.”
“From what I’ve seen since I’ve been around him, he loves everybody,” Lee continued. “It’s a pleasure to have him in the facility and he doesn’t usually work like that. He and I talked about the seriousness of the situation and how to behave in the future.”
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Lee added that during their conversation, Ball promised, “I’ll get better.” “We’ll make sure we hold him accountable for that,” the head coach said.
Ball is in his fifth season with the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him as the third pick in the 2020 NBA draft. This season he is averaging 29.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds.
His brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball, also play professional basketball.
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