LaMelo Ball Fined $100K For Postgame Comment

Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $100K for issuing a derogatory slur during a televised postgame interview, the NBA has announced in a statement (Twitter link).

Ball was speaking after a heroic 15-point fourth quarter individual effort helped Charlotte secure a 115-114 victory over the reeling Bucks on Saturday (video link).

Across his 12 healthy contests, the 6’7″ pro is averaging a career-best 29.6 points per game on .440/.364/.875 shooting to go along with 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per night.

The 23-year-old made just 7-of-20 shots from the field in Saturday’s victory, but compensated with a steady diet of free throws. He shot an immaculate 11-of-11 from the charity stripe and finished with a game-high 26 points. Ball also chipped in nine rebounds and six assists.

Charlotte has gotten off to a steady 5-7 start, good for the East’s No. 8 seed, under new head coach Charles Lee, who won a championship with the Celtics last year under Joe Mazzulla. Next up for the Hornets is a road date with the undefeated (14-0) Cavaliers on Sunday.

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