LaMelo Ball is currently a superstar for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. This player rarely gets involved in scandals, but the most recent incident that got LaMelo Ball in trouble was when he used homophobic language during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Sporting News will provide more details about LaMelo Ball’s behavior and punishment in the article below.
Why did the NBA punish LaMelo Ball?
In the Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets match, LaMelo Ball’s team had a thrilling victory with a score of 115-114. There were 2 decisive situations that led to this result, including LaMelo Ball’s successful free throw and Charlotte Hornets’ successful defense of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s final shot.
After the game, FanDuel Sports Network reporter Shannon Spake asked LaMelo Ball about the Charlotte Hornets’ defense of Giannis Antetokounmpo on that play. However, the player used a homophobic slur to respond: “On that play, we were just ready, no homo (slang for not being gay), but that’s what we wanted. Just put your hands up to block the shot and win.”
It is unclear whether LaMelo Ball intentionally used this word or not, but it cannot be ignored that “no homo” is a sensitive word. For this reason, the NBA fined LaMelo Ball $100,000 for “making offensive and demeaning comments about an opponent”.
Similar cases
The NBA has also issued similar fines for players who make inappropriate statements. Typical examples include Nikola Jokic in 2018 ($25,000), Cam Thomas in 2023 ($40,000) and Roy Hibbert in 2013 ($75,000).
