Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was fined $100,000 on Sunday after using an anti-gay term during a postgame interview Saturday night.
The league announced the fine Sunday afternoon, which is the maximum amount it can impose for conduct or statements under the current collective bargaining agreement. The NBA said Ball used an “offensive and derogatory comment” during an on-court interview.
Ball, shortly after the Hornets’ 115-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, was asked about how the team was defending Giannis Antetokounmpo on the final play of the game at Spectrum Center. Antetokounmpo, who had his first triple-double of the season in the game, had a look at the game-winning bucket from just inside the 3-point line, but his shot barely made it past the buzzer final sounded. That’s when Ball slipped in the term anti-gay.
Ball had a team-high 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the win for the Hornets, who are now 5-7 on the year. He shot just 1 of 7 from behind the arc. The 23-year-old is averaging 29.6 points and 6.3 assists per game this season, his fifth with the Hornets. Ball played in just 22 games last season due to an ankle injury.
The Hornets will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon, which will mark the start of a quick two-game road trip.
