LaMelo Ball fined $35,000 for obscene gesture to referee during Heat game

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was fined for making an “obscene gesture” earlier this week on the court.

In a game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Ball drove toward the basket for a floater, but he was called for a charge.

Ball then turned toward a ref and gave him the middle finger, costing him $35,000. The incident occurred with 4:02 left in the game, which Charlotte lost, 144-117.

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LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Oct. 28, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Last season, Ball was hit with a $100,000 fine for making “offensive and derogatory comments” in a postgame interview.

The Hornets upset the Milwaukee Bucks, 115-114, as Ball hit the game-winning free throws on Nov. 16. But when he discussed that last play of the game, where teammate Grant Williams defended Giannis Antetokounmpo’s last-ditch effort for the win, Ball dropped an anti-gay comment during his explanation.

“We loaded up,” Ball said, adding the phrase “no homo” with a lowered voice into the microphone before continuing to talk.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

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The other fines Ball has received stem from technical fouls — 18 in total — and one flop in a January 2024 game.

Ball has largely struggled to stay on the court, playing in just 110 games since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. However, when he has been on the floor, he has proven to be a major difference maker.

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center on Nov. 14, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)

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Ball leads the Hornets with 24.4 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game in the young NBA season. Last year, he put up a career-best 25.2 points per contest, along with 7.4 assists and 4.9 boards.

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