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Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
ESPN News1 min read
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Video of LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo in 2024 suggests heās no first time offender
TL;DR
LaMelo Ball tripped Bam Adebayo during a 2024 play-in game, leading to concerns about his history of similar incidents. Adebayo was unable to continue playing, and potential disciplinary action against Ball is being considered.
Video of LaMelo Ball tripping Bam Adebayo in 2024 suggests heās no first time offender originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LaMelo Ball has been here before.
That's what some NBA fans began to realize when they dug deeper into the Charlotte Hornets' star's incident with Miami Heat big guy Bam Adebayo during Tuesday night's play-in game.
Ball brought down Adebayo with what many on the Heat side believed to be a dirty play, and Bam couldn't play the rest of the game.
There might still be discipline coming for Ball, too, but there's more to it than that.
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A video from 2024 began to circulate on social media, and it doesn't paint Ball in a great light:
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Ball appeared to have both an instinctive reaction with his feet to grab Adebayo, and then once he sat up, he also tried to grab Bam with his hand.
Neither are particularly flattering moments.
Ball wouldn't be the first player with at least a bit of a tripping instinct. Grayson Allen became infamous for that during his Duke career.
It's not something the Hornets or Ball will want to continue, though. They want him on the court, not suspended, and they want him respected, not hated.
He evidently doesn't always keep his cool around Adebayo, though. Tuesday night's antics weren't the first time.
More basketball news:
Q&A
What happened between LaMelo Ball and Bam Adebayo in the 2024 play-in game?
LaMelo Ball tripped Bam Adebayo, causing Adebayo to be unable to continue playing in the game.
Has LaMelo Ball been involved in similar incidents before?
Yes, NBA fans noted that this incident suggests LaMelo Ball may have a history of similar plays.
Will LaMelo Ball face disciplinary action for tripping Bam Adebayo?
There is potential for disciplinary action against LaMelo Ball following the incident, but no official decision has been announced yet.
