Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $100,000 (£79,000) by the NBA for making an “offensive and derogatory” homophobic comment.
The 23-year-old made the remark in a courtside interview after the 115-114 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
He was discussing his team’s defensive strategy on the final play of the game, when the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a last-gap two-point effort.
“I really didn’t mean anything and don’t want to offend anybody. I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate,” Ball said after scoring 31 points in Sunday’s 128-114 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The fine was the maximum the NBA could hand out under current guidelines.
It also fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $35,000 (£28,000) for making an obscene gesture towards fans during Friday’s 130-126 overtime win at the Sacremento Kings.
Edwards was in 2022 for using homophobic language on Instagram.
In 2021 Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant was for using homophobic and misogynistic language in private messages that were then released publicly.
