Hornets star LaMelo Ball slapped with huge fine for ‘anti-gay’ comment in postgame interview

The NBA has announced a $100,000 fine for LaMelo Ball after the Hornets star made a homophobic remark following his team’s win over the Bucks on Saturday.

Speaking on the court about Charlotte’s defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo during the final possession of the game, Ball said, ‘We loaded up – no homo.’

‘That’s what we wanted, put a hand up and then live with the results.’

The NBA branded Ball’s remarks ‘offensive and derogatory’ in their statement.

The $100,000 amount is the maximum fine allowed by league rules. 

LaMelo Ball made a homophobic remark following his team’s win against the Bucks

Notably, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas was fined significantly less for saying the same remark in 2023, at $40,000.

Five years earlier, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic also got a $25,000 fine from the league for saying ‘no homo’ at a time when the Serbian-born center was still improving his English.

Per Spotrac, Ball will make $35.147 million in total salary this season.

He signed a five-year deal worth more than $203million in guarantees last year.

Ball has had an extremely strong start to this NBA season, as he’s averaging 29.6 points per contest through 12 games.