The NBA announced it has fined Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball $35,000 after he flipped the middle finger at a referee during their October 28 game against the Miami Heat.
In a statement on Thursday, James Jones, who is the Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations, said that Ball, 24, was fined for “making an obscene gesture on the playing court.”
“The incident, for which Ball was assessed a technical foul, occurred with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Hornets’ 144-117 loss to the Miami Heat on Oct. 28 at Kaseya Center,” the statement said.
Lamelo Ball flipped off a ref after getting called for a charge ???? pic.twitter.com/zlAliQC903
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 29, 2025
This also isn’t the first time that Ball has been fined. Last year, the NBA fined him $100,000 for a comment the organization deemed to be “offensive and derogatory.” Ball, however, later apologized and made it clear that he does not discriminate.
Per The Associated Press, Ball made that comment after the Hornets’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 16. Following their 115-114 victory, Ball, in an interview on FanDuel Sports Network, was asked about the way they set up to defend Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo on the final play of the game – to which the Hornets star responded by using an anti-gay slur.
“We loaded up, no homo. That’s what we wanted, put a hand up and then live with the results,” he said, according to CBS Sports.
Ball ultimately cleared the air after the Hornets’ 128-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 17. “Before we get started, I just want to address the comment yesterday,” the star point guard told reporters.
“I really didn’t mean anything (by it) and don’t want to offend anybody. I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate.”
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Ball’s response came after Hornets coach Charles Lee said he had spoken to the 24-year-old All-Star player and he was “very apologetic.”
“As an organization, that is obviously not something we condone,” Lee said. “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 also said he was sure Ball would not repeat his actions. “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.”
Ball has spent six seasons with the Hornets and averaged 21.1 points per game. His contributions, however, haven’t helped propel the franchise to the playoffs. Despite that, he has been a key player for the Hornets after the franchise drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He was then crowned Rookie of the Year.
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