NBA says LaMelo Ball’s takedown of Bam Adebayo should have been called flagrant, deserved ejection

MIAMI (AP) — Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for a flagrant uncalled foul when he reached out and pulled Miami’s Bam Adebayo’s ankle, causing a back injury that forced Adebayo out of a tournament game, the NBA said Wednesday.

The league said Ball had “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Adebayo on Tuesday night. Ball was fined $60,000 for the foul and for using foul language in an interview, but remains eligible to play in the Hornets’ elimination game Friday against Orlando.

Announcement

The flagrant foul in Tuesday’s game, if called in real time, would have resulted in Miami being awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. The Heat ended up losing 127-126 in overtime, ending their season.

The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was deserved. If he had been called, Ball would have been ejected.

Adebayo was injured early in the second quarter and did not return, leaving Miami without its best player. Ball made the game-winning layup for the Hornets in overtime.

While praising the way Charlotte played, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he felt Ball should have been ejected and wondered how referees Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair and Gediminas Petraitis missed the incident.

Announcement

“I don’t think it’s part of the game, tripping guys up, shenanigans,” Spoelstra said. “Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see it. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach needs to see it. Someone needs to see it. He should have been kicked out of the game for this. I don’t know him from anyone. There’s no place in the game for this.”

Under NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the decision on the play because no foul had been called. The game continued, leaving no opportunity to review the replay.

“The play wasn’t called in real time,” Zarba told a pool reporter. “The game continued with a counterattack. And since the game was not stopped immediately and there was no whistle during the action, the window to review the action was closed.”

Ball was fined $35,000 for the foul on Adebayo. He was fined $25,000 for using foul language in a postgame on-court interview. The league has not publicly addressed a separate incident in which Ball hit Charlotte’s mascot during postgame celebrations.

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Tuesday’s play was reminiscent of a game in Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed Adebayo’s leg as the Heat center ran toward the other end of the court. Adebayo stumbled but didn’t fall.

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