The NBA has fined Charlotte Hornets star Lamelo Ball $100,000 after he made a homophobic comment during a post-game interview.
Speaking after a victory to the Hornets FanDuel broadcast, Ball declared, “Yeah, we loaded up,” and then proceeded to mutter, “No homo.”
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“Loaded up” can sometimes refer to sex between gay men, according to Urban Dictionary, which may be what compelled Ball to make the anti-gay joke.
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A statement from the NBA called Ball’s comments “offensive and derogatory.” Ball – who is the NBA’s fifth top scorer – recently apologized, telling reporters after a subsequent game, “Before we get started, I just want to address the comment yesterday. 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.”
NBA star LaMelo Ball FINED $100K for saying "No Homo"
— AURA NBA (@auranba.bsky.social) November 17, 2024 at 2:57 PM
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Hornets Coach Charles Lee also spoke out, emphasizing that “as an organization, that is obviously not something we condone.” He said he talked to Ball about the controversy and that the player was “very apologetic.”
“From what I’ve seen since I’ve been around him, he loves everyone,” Lee said, according to ESPN. “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.”
“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 continued. “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’s fine is one of the NBA’s largest in recent history concerning anti-LGBTQ+ comments from players.
Last year, Cam Thomas was fined $40,000, also for saying “no homo” during a post-game TV interview.
In 2022, the league fined Anthony Edwards $40,000 after a video on his Instagram story depicted him mocking a group of men standing on the sidewalk.
And in 2023, the NBA announced a $50,000 fine levied against Kevin Durant for derogatory remarks.
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