LaMelo Ball Hit With $60K Fine After Bam Adebayo Play, LaVar Claps Back

Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images | Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

The fallout from LaMelo Ball’s controversial collision with Bam Adebayo continues, but this time, the loudest response came from LaMelo’s father. After the NBA fined the Charlotte Hornets guard and retroactively upgraded the play to a Flagrant 1, LaVar Ball fired back at critics—including Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

The league announced that LaMelo Ball was being fined $35,000 for the second-quarter play that knocked Adebayo out of the April 14 night’s play-in game against Charlotte. The NBA also assessed Ball another $25,000 for using profanity during a live postgame television interview.

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While officials did not call a foul during the game, the league later reviewed the sequence and determined that Ball’s contact with Adebayo warranted a retroactive Flagrant 1.

The incident occurred after Adebayo grabbed a rebound near the baseline. As the Miami center came down, Ball—who was on the floor after the previous play—appeared to grab at Adebayo’s ankle. Adebayo landed hard on his lower back and tailbone, left the game in pain, and did not return.

Miami went on to lose 127-126 in overtime after Ball scored the game-winning basket with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Spoelstra was furious after the game, arguing that Ball should have been ejected.

“I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny,” Spoelstra said. “I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that.”

The Heat coach also said there was “no place in the game” for tripping another player and criticized the officiating crew for failing to stop play and review the incident.

LaVar Ball responded directly in a video posted from the set, defending his son while attacking Spoelstra and other media personalities who criticized LaMelo.