All-Star LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets was fined $35,000. During a recent game against the Miami Heat, he responded with an obscene gesture. The moment came on Tuesday night in the midst of a blowout loss, 144-117, to the Milwaukee Bucks. Ball’s fine reminds us of today’s wider concern about how athletes should behave while playing their sport on their home court.
On one play in the game, Ball was called for an offensive foul as he drove to the basket. Frustrated by the call, he responded with a hand gesture that led to a technical foul being assessed with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. State and federal officials were quick to respond to the incident. Ultimately, the underage young point guard was docked a monetary fine.
In spite of the missed shot, it was an impressive showing from Ball, who scored 20 points to go with nine assists and eight rebounds. His contributions were lofty, but ultimately his loss was overshadowed by the team’s greater loss. In the first four games of the season, Ball has been averaging impressive statistics, including 26.3 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.3 rebounds, showcasing his potential as a leading player for the Hornets.
The battle for the top pick continues as the Charlotte Hornets will host the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. They hope to recover from their recent loss. The team is sure to need Ball’s diverse array of skills as they continue to figure their way through the rest of this fractured season.
Ohm Youngmisuk, a veteran sports journalist who has covered the big four sports leagues since 2006, was there to witness and report on that incident. As basketball and football fans well know from her decorated coverage of both sports over the years, Youngmisuk delivers more than raw play-by-play.
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