CLEVELAND (AP) 鈥� Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball said Sunday night that he didn't mean to offend anyone with a comment the NBA said was 鈥渙ffensive and derogatory鈥� while slapping him with a $100,000 fine.
Following Saturday's 115-114 win in Milwaukee, Ball made the comment on FanDuel Sports Network. Sideline reporter Shannon Spake asked Ball about the team鈥檚 on the game鈥檚 final play, and Ball used an anti-gay slur while delivering his answer.
The league came down hard on Ball, levying the maximum fine possible on the 23-year-old.
After the Hornets to the unbeaten Cavaliers, Ball made his first comments since the fine was assessed.
鈥淏efore we get started, I just want to address the comment yesterday,鈥� he told reporters. "I really didn鈥檛 mean anything (by it) and don鈥檛 want to offend anybody. I鈥檝e got love for everybody, and I don鈥檛 discriminate.鈥�
Ball scored 31 points on 11-of-29 shooting and had 12 assists against the Cavs.
Earlier, first-year Hornets coach Charles Lee said he had spoken to Ball, who had been 鈥渧ery apologetic鈥� and intended to learn from the behavior.
鈥淎s an organization, that is obviously not something we condone," said Lee. 鈥淥ur standards and what is required of our players in the environment we create is really important to us.鈥�
鈥淚 spoke to Melo and he鈥檚 obviously very apologetic. From what I鈥檝e seen since I鈥檝e been around him, he loves everyone. He鈥檚 a joy to have around the facility and it鈥檚 not typically how he operates. He and I talked about the seriousness of the situation and how he needs to conduct himself going forward.鈥�
Lee was confident Ball would keep his word.
鈥淗e and I talked about it and he definitely said going forward, 鈥業鈥檓 going to be better,鈥� and I want to see that happen," Lee said. "So for somebody to use those words and say that out of his mouth, we will make sure to hold him accountable to that.鈥�
Ball had 26 points in the win over Milwaukee, including a pair of free throws with 7.3 seconds left that gave Charlotte the lead for good.
Ball is averaging 29.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his fifth season. He was Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and an All-Star the following season.
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AP NBA:
Tom Withers, The Associated Press
