LaMelo Ball Fined $35K for Middle Finger

The NBA fined Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball $35,000 on Thursday for making an obscene gesture — reportedly the middle finger — toward an official with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s 144-117 loss to the Miami Heat on Oct. 28; he was also assessed a technical foul on the play. The gesture followed a late offensive/charging call on a drive, and Ball finished the game with 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The night also featured an accidental kick that struck Miami’s Davion Mitchell. The $35,000 penalty is the latest in Ball’s disciplinary history after a prior $100,000 fine for using an offensive slur in 2024. Ball is off to a strong start this season, averaging about 26.3 points, 9.5 assists and 8.3 rebounds through four games, and the Hornets (2-2) will look to move past the incident as he remains the focal point of their early-season hopes.