NBA's LaMelo Ball Fined Nearly $40,000 For Crass Reaction After Offensive Foul

NBA star LaMelo Ball had a clearly frustrating night while playing against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, October 28, and it looks like things may have just gotten worse.

According to an official press release from the NBA, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has received a $35,000 fine for making "an obscene gesture on the playing court" (flipping the referee off) during his team's contest against the Miami Heat.

The shocking moment occurred during the fourth quarter with just 4:02 remaining in the game.

Ball, 24, finished the contest with 20 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. However, his team still came up short, losing 144-117.

Social media users and NBA fans alike were stunned by the NBA All-Star's out-of-pocket reaction, with many sharing their thoughts on X, formerly Twitter.

"League about to wipe they a-- with the money they fine him," one user wrote, while another posted, "LaMelo 'Classless' Ball."

Other users seemed to be in support of the bright young star, with one saying his daring response to the referee's foul call was "part of his appeal."

Another chimed in, adding, "Don't blame him. Dude gets fouled constantly with no calls, while others barely get touched and live at the line."

According to a previous report from The Blast, this isn't the first time Ball has received a hefty fine from the league because of his conduct.

In November 2024, Ball came under fire after a clip of him using an "anti-gay" slur during a post-game interview went viral. The NBA fined Ball $100,000.

He addressed his comments in a later statement, explaining that he "really didn't mean anything [by it]."

"I've got love for everybody, and I don't discriminate," he continued.

After that incident, Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green received a $50,000 fine of his own for reportedly questioning the integrity of the referees during his team's 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves during a playoff game.

Prior to that, Green spoke to the media about being portrayed negatively in the league, blasting the "agenda" he claims has been created against him.

"Looked like the angry Black man," he said. "I'm not an angry Black man. I am a very successful, educated Black man with a great family, and I am great at basketball and great at what I do."

He continued, "The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous."

While the fines are a touchy subject for some players, it's a relatively small problem considering the Department of Justice recently arrested current and former NBA players for their alleged role in an ongoing gambling scheme.

"Former and current NBA players and coaches, including Terry Rozier, Damon Jones and additional co-conspirators, allegedly informed the defendants and others of confidential information relating to upcoming NBA games and player performances, such as pre-release medical information and a player’s intention to alter their upcoming game performance, which favored certain bettors within their inner social circle," said an FBI spokesperson, according to The Blast.

"This alleged collusion resulted in the defendants secretly pocketing their lavish winnings and corrupting NBA games. The FBI will never turn a blind eye to any insider betting scheme within sporting industries – regardless of title or professional affiliation – to protect its integrity and afford all participants a fair chance to win big," they added.

Prior to this wave of arrests, the NBA had already banned former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter for providing non-public information to gamblers.

"While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

He added, "Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game."

After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Jontay told a court that he "knew what I did was wrong and unlawful," adding, "I'm deeply sorry for my conduct."

And although Jontay has kept things under wraps for the most part, his brother, NBA star Michael Porter Jr., revealed the Missouri alums sat down on his podcast and had an open conversation about everything, calling it a much-needed "therapy session."

"It was like a therapy session for us because, as brothers, that was the first time we sat down and really had a full conversation about what really happened, him being super honest and transparent about the entire thing. And it was great," he said.