Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball has been fined $35,000 by the NBA after making an obscene gesture during Tuesday night’s 144–117 loss to the Miami Heat. The league announced the penalty Thursday, citing Ball for “making an obscene gesture on the playing court.”
The incident took place late in the fourth quarter, with 4:02 remaining on the clock. After being called for an offensive charge while driving to the basket, Ball—frustrated by the whistle—briefly flipped off the referee. Ball was assessed a technical foul for making the gesture; he finished the game with 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Despite the setback, Ball’s on-court performance has been impressive early in the new season. Now in his sixth year in the league, the 24-year-old guard is averaging a career-best 26.3 points, 9.5 assists, and just over 8 rebounds through Charlotte’s first four games. He’s also adding 1.8 steals per game, showing a well-rounded and healthy return after an injury-riddled 2024–25 campaign. Last season, Ball appeared in only 47 games due to lingering ankle and wrist issues that eventually required surgery in March.
The fine is the first infraction of the 2025–26 NBA season; however, not the first disciplinary issue for Ball. In 2024, he was fined $100,000 for using an anti-gay slur during a postgame interview following a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
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