The controversial play between Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo continues to reverberate. Ball tripped Adebayo during the Hornets-Heat do-or-die game on Tuesday, forcing the big man to leave early in the game due to a lower back injury.
“First Things First” host Nick Wright blasted Ball on Wednesday for his actions, calling the point guard a “clown” and an “immature, coddled teenager.” LaMelo’s brother, Lonzo Ball, responded to that comment by tweeting that Wright is a “bum.”
The sports analyst doubled down on his comment with a tweet:
“After LaMelo intentionally injures Bam & plays one of the most erratic elimination games we’ve ever seen, in the same season he’s been a menace on the streets of Charlotte, if calling him a clown is too far, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Nick Wright’s “menace on the streets of Charlotte” reference was due to LaMelo Ball’s vehicular accident in mid-February. Ball’s Hummer crashed into a sedan in Uptown Charlotte. Ball and the other driver, who was taken to the hospital, were not injured.
The Hornets survived the Heat despite seeing Bam Adebayo for just 11 minutes. Charlotte lost the lead late in the fourth quarter before Ball rescued his team with the go-ahead layup.
The NBA looked into the sequence that led to Adebayo’s injury. NBA insider Shams Charania reported that LaMelo Ball’s action was upgraded to Flagrant 1. He was fined $35,000 for the trip against Adebayo and $25,000 for cursing postgame.
Fans React to Nick Wright Calling LaMelo Ball “Clown” Again
Nick Wright’s tweet, in which he called LaMelo Ball a clown, gained traction, prompting fans to react. One fan wrote:
“It’s fair to say he can be careless at times, but calling him a menace is wild.”
Another fan added:
“You don’t even know the kid. He’s trying to do well in the NBA and he is.”
One more fan continued:
“Did you go scorch earth on Embiid for intentionally injuring Mitchell Robinson?”
Another fan commented:
“You’re a clown. You didn’t say s**t when Goga Bitadze intentionally injured Landale and took him out for the season.”
One fan tweeted:
“You will glaze Luka and Bron for throwing their hands up and flopping like a little b**ch every play. … Just say Adam Silverstein paid you to say that.”
While Lonzo Ball replied to Wright’s comments, LaMelo Ball has refused to say anything so far. Fans are speaking up for the Hornets’ point guard by blasting the sports analyst. Nobody will be surprised if the former All-Star defends himself after being criticized on TV and via social media.
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