Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was fined $100,000 for using anti-ghey language after the team’s 115-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
Ball was being interviewed by FanDuel Sports Network when he was asked about the team’s strategy in defending Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks’ final possession.
“Yeah, we loaded up – no homo – but that’s what we wanted, put a hand up and lived with the result,” he told sideline reporter Shannon Spake.
NBA STOP INTERVIEWING THESE YNS RIGHT AFTER THE GAME. LAMELO BALL HAS NO FILTER ???
“We loaded up…no homo”
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) November 16, 2024
The NBA came down hard on the 23-year-old guard on Sunday before the Hornets faced the undefeated Cavaliers in Cleveland.
In a statement, the NBA said Ball’s comment was “offensive and derogatory” to ghey men. Ball was fined $50,000 per word.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/eBXmqGaExw
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) November 17, 2024
Hornets coach Charles Lee said Ball was “very apologetic” when he spoke to the young man.
“As an organization that is obviously not something we condone,” said Lee. “Our standards and what is required of our players in the environment we create is really important to us. I spoke to Melo and he’s obviously very apologetic. From what I’ve seen since I’ve been around him, he loves everyone. He’s a joy to have around the facility and it’s not typically how he operates. He and I talked about the seriousness of the situation and how he needs to conduct himself going forward.”
Lee is confident that Ball will choose his words carefully next time.
“He and I talked about it and he definitely said going forward, ‘I’m going to be better’ and I want to see that happen,” Lee said. “So for somebody to use those words and say that out of his mouth we will make sure to hold him accountable to that.”
