LaMelo Ball says no rift with Bam Adebayo, relieved Heat center avoided serious injury
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball said Friday he is grateful Bam Adebayo escaped major harm and insisted there is “no history” between the two players after Ball’s flagrant foul knocked the Miami Heat center out of Tuesday’s play-in game.
The NBA reviewed the second-quarter incident from Charlotte’s overtime win in Miami and upgraded the play to a flagrant foul 2. Ball was fined $35,000 for the trip and an additional $25,000 for using profanity during a postgame television interview, but he was not suspended for Friday night’s play-in matchup against the Orlando Magic that will decide the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed.
“I tried to apologize and just make sure he’s OK,” Ball said after the Hornets’ morning shoot-around. “We don’t want anybody hurt in this league. As long as he’s good, it puts my mind at ease.”
With 10:58 left in the second quarter Tuesday, Ball swiped at Adebayo’s foot as the Heat big man attempted to stay inbounds following a rebound. Adebayo crashed to the floor, remained down while Charlotte scored twice, and did not return, ending his night — and Miami’s season — early.
Ball waited outside the Heat locker room after the game hoping to speak with Adebayo but was told the center was in the shower and opted to give him space. “Whenever I see him, I’ll try to talk to him,” Ball said.
Footage from a January 2024 meeting between the teams resurfaced showing Ball grabbing Adebayo’s leg while sitting on the court. Ball dismissed suggestions of animosity, saying, “It’s all basketball … we never had anything going on.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called Tuesday’s trip “dangerous and dirty” yet said he does not view Ball as a dirty player and agreed with the league’s decision to stop short of suspension. Had officials ruled the foul a flagrant 2 in real time, Ball would have been ejected and Miami would have received two free throws plus possession.
Charlotte, seeking its first playoff berth since 2017, enters Friday’s contest with the NBA’s longest active postseason drought at nine years. Ball said his focus is on ending that skid: “My head stayed clear … it’s never a problem.”
Source: ESPN
