Even though LaMelo Ball hit the game-winner to keep the Charlotte Hornets’ season alive against the Miami Heat in the play-in, the spotlight quickly shifted to a moment earlier in the game. Ball was involved in a controversial play where Bam Adebayo was tripped and exited the game after logging just 11 minutes.
That incident sparked heavy criticism, with analysts like Nick Wright and Jason Whitlock bashing LaMelo for his actions. Wright called Ball a “clown,” whereas Whitlock went even further, labeling him the “biggest annoyance and jerk in the NBA.”
Those comments didn’t sit well with LaMelo’s father, LaVar Ball, who jumped in to defend his son. He clapped back at both analysts for their choice of words.
“We got these folks over here commenting on the game and talking about somebody a clown,” LaVar Ball said. “Has Nick Wright ever looked in the mirror? I bet you if you look in the dictionary right now and you look up a clown, you’re going to see two things.
One, it’s going to be somebody with some long hair on the sides and a big a** nose. Yep, that’s Nick Wright, a clown in itself. He’s been a clown ever since I knew him and I know his tag team buddy (Jason Whitlock) too. He looks like a clown, too. Puffy cheeks and a big round nose and a big belly to match. Yes, I’m calling them all out. They’re all clowns.”
LaVar also questioned the narrative that LaMelo intentionally caused the injury. He argued that the situation didn’t make sense physically and suggested that Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra was using the situation as an excuse for the loss.
“I’m trying to figure out how somebody can lay on their back and with their left hand flip over a man 260 pounds. Try that. That ain’t going to work,” LaVar continued. “(Spoelstra) Don’t be making all these excuses, talking about you don’t want to make an excuse.”
“But if somebody falling on top of me, you best believe I’m going to put my hands up and do all kinds of stuff. So that’s just how the balls are taught. We do some dangerous stuff. Get out the way because we ain’t getting stepped on.”
At the time, no foul was called on Ball, let alone a flagrant. But a day later, the league took another look and decided to upgrade it to a flagrant foul. Along with that decision, LaMelo was also slapped with a hefty $35,000 fine.
LaMelo Ball apologizes for injuring Bam Adebayo
After guiding the Hornets to a win in the 9th vs 10th play-in game, LaMelo Ball apologized for the moment that led to Bam Adebayo suffering a lower back injury.
“I apologize on that one,” Ball said in the postgame interview. “I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was, but I’mma check on him and see if he’s okay and everything. I haven’t even seen it.”
Putting that incident aside, Ball delivered an outstanding performance otherwise. He finished with 30 points and 10 assists, including the game-winning layup that sealed a 127-126 victory for Charlotte.
With the win, the Hornets now move on to face the Orlando Magic, with a playoff spot on the line.
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