標籤: LaMelo

Tuesday night was a perfect display of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s dream when he pushed to create an NBA Play-In Tournament. The games between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns featured exciting basketball, maximum effort and matchups that came down to the final seconds.

While basketball fans walked away with a win on the first night of the NBA Play-ins, not everyone went home happy. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Hornets’ win over the Heat and the Trail Blazers’ playoff win against the Suns.

Winner and Loser: LaMelo Ball, Hornets

On Tuesday night, LaMelo Ball showed the basketball world why the Hornets ignored rumors of trading him in the offseason. With the right pieces around him, Ball can lead a team to the playoffs, and Charlotte may not have survived to play another day without the 24-year-old’s 30 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and scoring a last-second layup in overtime in a do-or-die game.

However, while he is a hero in Charlotte today, he is a true villain in Miami. In the first quarter, he tackled the Heat’s top star, Bam Adebayo, causing an injury and knocking him out for the rest of the game. Given that the Hornets won by 1 point, Heat fans will be wondering all summer what could have been if Ball had not injured their best player. There is now a new villain in the playoffs.

Loser: Bam Adebayo, Heat

In nine seasons with the Heat, Bam Adebayo has developed into a role as the center of this current iteration of the franchise. Additionally, earlier this season, he forever cemented his place in Heat and NBA history when he had a historic 83-point night.

However, this was the fourth consecutive year the team had to play its way into the postseason. That’s disappointing enough, but Ball’s poor play made matters even worse, keeping the three-time All-Star out for most of the game. Now, he and his teammates have to deal with the fact that they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 due to extremely questionable play early in the game.

Winner: Miles Bridges, Hornets

After being selected in the first round in the 2018 NBA Draft, Miles Bridges has had an up and down tenure in Charlotte. He slowly developed into the team’s top star, and when he was set to cash in on his first big contract in the summer of 2022, he missed the entire season after serious domestic violence allegations.

Nevertheless, the Hornets did not give up on him and gave him a chance to rebuild his reputation. That loyalty was rewarded Tuesday when the eight-year veteran scored 28 points, hit five threes and got the game-winning block in the final seconds of the franchise’s biggest game in years. Bridges being a part of the Hornets’ resurgence is a feel-good story in Charlotte.

Loser: Erik Spoelstra, Heat

It has been a disappointing season for veteran Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. Despite being far better on offense than many had anticipated after trading Jimmy Butler last year, Miami has largely lagged behind on defense this season. This year’s Heat was a very un-Spoelstra-like group. We got further proof of this when they couldn’t seal a deal to play another day in the fourth quarter.

Now Miami will miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years and will have to figure out how they get back to classic Heat ball this summer.

Winner: Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers

If you were a casual basketball fan and didn’t know much about Deni Avdija, you now know after the first night of the NBA Play-ins. The former lottery pick for the Washington Wizards has finally been coming along the past few seasons, but he took a huge leap forward in 2025-26 as he became the new face of Portland and earned All-Star honors for the first time.

In the franchise’s biggest game in five years, the 25-year-old looked like a superstar as he posted a near triple-double (41 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists) in his first postseason game. For the first time since Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers have a legitimate star.

Loser: Devin Booker, Suns

Devin Booker is one of the game’s elite scorers and has been so for quite some time. But he’s a five-time All-Star because of his ability to dominate the offense and make his teammates better. The Suns needed it on Tuesday, but their top star was unable to elevate his play in the biggest game of the year.

It was much better weather in the desert than many people expected. However, Booker and his teammates continued to fight hard to take a 10-point lead late in the fourth game.

Winner: Tiago Splitter, Trail Blazers

Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter deserves a lot of credit. The seven-year NBA veteran was thrust into the top job when Chauncey Billups found himself embroiled in an ugly gambling scandal just as the season began. Despite the messy situation, Splitter guided Portland to its first winning season and playoff birth since 2020-21. It’s hard to say that he hasn’t been able to keep the job next season.

Winner: Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers

Many mocked Portland trading for aging star Jrue Holiday and his hefty contract. Still, the 35-year-old has played very well in his first season with the Trail Blazers. But more importantly, he once again showed why he is such an impactful player in the most important games, scoring 21 runs in the team’s playoff win.

Holiday is making a lot of money, but for a team that’s yearning for the playoffs, he’s worth it in 2026.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

拉梅洛·鮑爾需要極大的意志力和勇氣才能投出致勝球，帶領夏洛特黃蜂隊進入季後賽。比賽還剩 8.7 秒時，鮑爾接住了球，將球擊入洞中，並將其從玻璃上放下。然後熱火隊盡快將球傳給達維恩米切爾。但隨後，當他衝向籃框時，他被邁爾斯·布里奇斯從後面擋住了。

最終，黃蜂隊透過加時賽以127-126擊敗熱火隊。隨後，鮑爾在描述這一時刻時毫不猶豫，其中包括根據《Underdog NBA》的說法，說了一句髒話。

「我只需要贏得比賽，」他說。 「我覺得我把比賽搞砸了，所以我想，『這是我的錯。』」一定要讓它發揮作用。 」

拉梅洛·鮑爾在贏得比賽之前談到了他的想法：

「我必須贏得比賽。我覺得我剛剛把比賽搞砸了，所以我想，『這是我的錯。』」一定要讓它發揮作用。 」pic.twitter.com/UVkafk6RVC

— 失敗者 NBA (@UnderdogNBA) 2026 年 4 月 15 日

最終，鮑爾拿下30分和10次助攻的兩雙數據完成全場。因此，黃蜂隊現在將面對奧蘭多魔術隊/費城 76 人隊入圍賽的失敗者。如果他們贏下這場比賽，他們將鎖定東部季後賽的第八號種子。

另外，鮑爾在第二節因絆倒巴姆·阿德巴約而被罰下場後，成功救贖了自己。

這一年，鮑爾場均貢獻20.1分和7.1次助攻。全場比賽布里奇斯18投10中，得到28分9籃板。同時，布蘭登·米勒拿下23分、5個籃板和5次助攻。科比懷特得到19分和5個籃板。他還投進扳平比數的三分球，將比賽拖入加時賽。

Kon Knuppel 拿下 6 分和 5 個籃板。黃蜂隊希望自 2016 年以來首次進入季後賽。

The Charlotte Hornets had a strong performance from three-point territory to pick up an easy 134-90 win over the Sacramento Kings at the Spectrum Center on Tuesday.

The Hornets should have provided umbrellas before the game because they rained three-pointers on the Kings. Charlotte tied the franchise record with 26 long bombs.

Coby White and LaMelo Ball each had six three-pointers to lead the offense. Coby White scored 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting and five rebounds off the bench, while Ball had 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

Ball accomplished another impressive feat after passing Dell Curry to move into second place in most three-pointers in team history. Ball is now behind only Kemba Walker.

LaMelo Ball is making history in Charlotte

Ball moved into second place all-time in three pointers made for the Hornets pic.twitter.com/Fs3xt0ffpf

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 25 March 2026

The Hornets improved to 38-34 and are on pace to end their nine-year playoff drought, the league’s longest active skid.

Fans praised the 24-year-old Ball for his hot shooting against the Kings.

@TheFLReaper said, “No matter how high you rate LaMelo, he’s still underrated.”

“No one in the league makes it look that effortless, and LaMelo Ball knows it. The step-back three with those moves is insulting to every defender alive at the moment,” @littledijah said.

“He’s great. We need the Hornets in the playoffs,” @TopShelfJam wrote.

@RenzWinford posted, “Deeply Melo. A boy.”

“LaMelo is making Hornets history with depth,” @braxson_grey commented.

After consecutive years on the sidelines, Ball has finally been healthy this season, and it’s no coincidence that the Hornets are playing their best ball in years.

With Ball, White, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, Charlotte could make quite a stir in the playoffs.

The Charlotte Hornets finally seem to be turning a turn this season as they try to secure a playoff spot heading into the final few weeks of the regular season. The teams recent success can be attributed to All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball is by no means career high, but he has adopted a more team-oriented style of basketball under head coach Charles Lee. However, that’s not the only reason, as players across the board have bought in on both ends of the floor, leading to positive results across the board.

During Tuesday night’s contest against the Sacramento Kings, LaMelo Ball made Charlotte Hornets history in one of the biggest wins of the season for the franchise. Ball only made four three-pointers on the night, falling behind Hornets legend Dell Curry for second place on the Hornets’ all-time three-pointers list.

Ball finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while shooting 7 of 16 from the field and 6 of 13 from three. His sixth three-pointer gave him 931 threes for his career – all with the Hornets – surpassing Dell Curry, who recently held his jersey retirement ceremony with the franchise, with his sons Stephen Curry and Seth Curry in attendance.

The Hornets’ franchise leader in three-pointers is Kemba Walker, who has made 1,283 three-pointers in his Charlotte career. Should he remain with the franchise, Ball has a very legitimate chance to finish as the Hornets’ leader in three-pointers. LaMelo Ball’s personal record for three-pointers in a season is 318, which he accomplished in his second season in the league as an All-Star.

With a 38-34 record, the Hornets are now just 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

In 61 appearances so far this season, LaMelo Ball has averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three.

LaMelo Ball says chemistry has been at the heart of the Charlotte Hornets’ recent surge, as the team continues one of the most remarkable postseason turnarounds in the league.

Ball discussed the Hornets’ success in an interview shared by the NBA on X, formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing the group’s connections on and off the court.

“Guys, you know everybody’s cool, takes care of each other, so it’s all real love. And you feel like a real family, and if someone’s down we’ll pick them up. And that’s how we go.”

Charlotte’s play has improved after a difficult start to the season. The Hornets dropped to 16-28 after a 94-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 21, but improved to 36-34 after a 130-111 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The surge has lifted Charlotte to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Over the past 15 games, the Hornets have been one of the NBA’s most efficient teams on both ends of the floor. Charlotte ranked eighth in scoring with 117.2 points per game during that span, while leading the league in three-point shooting, making threes an average of 19 times at 40.4% accuracy.

Defensively, the Hornets have also made significant progress. The team has allowed just 106.4 points per game over that span, the fourth-best mark in the league, trailing only the Boston Celtics (102.1), New York Knicks (103.7) and Oklahoma City Thunder (105.6). Charlotte’s 10.8 net rating during that span ranks first in the NBA.

Buzzing energy at Hornets practice 🐝

Go behind the scenes with Coach Charles Lee and Kon Knueppel before Charlotte hosts Memphis tonight at 7:00 PM on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/E4Mp7rZ2if

– NBA (@NBA) 21 March 2026

LaMelo Ball’s production fuels Hornets’ playoff boost

Ball has played a central role in the turnaround. The 24-year-old guard has averaged 19.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season, while shooting 40.4% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range and a career-high 89.7% from the free-throw line. Appeared in 60 games, including 57 starts. He averages 27.6 minutes per contest.

With momentum building, Charlotte remains a long way from high playoff position. The Hornets are 2.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Orlando Magic (38-31) in the Eastern Conference standings.

Charlotte will look to extend its current two-game winning streak on Saturday night when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies (24-45) at 7:00 pm ET as part of a seven-game homestand.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, Ball’s emphasis on chemistry continues to define a Hornets team that has rapidly re-established itself as a competitive force in the Eastern Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets resumed their winning ways with a blowout win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday evening. The win allowed Charlotte to hold on to the No. 10 position in the East, and LaMelo Ball was dominant, scoring 30 points with 13 assists in the win.

After the game, the NBA on NBC crew detailed some of the team’s successes and Tracy McGrady called Ball “Melo”. One guy who wasn’t involved was Carmelo Anthony Also a part of the broadcast.

“LaMelo.*”

Carmelo Anthony had to correct T-Mac after calling LaMelo Ball Melo. ??? pic.twitter.com/7JmoREL3lV

– NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) 18 March 2026

Older fans in the NBA have long sought to stop younger fans from referring to LaMelo Ball as simply “Melo”, noting that Carmelo Anthony’s name was shortened during his Hall of Fame career.

While he may need a new nickname, Ball has certainly taken his game to another level this season, continuing to extend his shooting range, showing more commitment on defense, and taking advantage of the plethora of weapons that Charlotte has put around him on offense, including Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Nueppel.

Now that all of these pieces are starting to fall into place, the Hornets are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA, and head coach Charles Lee has done an impressive job of helping bring everything together.

Nevertheless, due to their struggles early in the season, it will be difficult for the Hornets to climb out of the play-in zone in the Eastern Conference, and it is looking increasingly likely that Charlotte will have to win two straight elimination games to make their first playoff appearance in ten years.

The Hornets next face off at home against the Orlando Magic on Thursday evening.

The Charlotte Hornets turned Tuesday night against the Miami Heat into a personal playground for LaMelo Ball. While Charlotte walked away with an impressive 136-106 win, the post-game conversation wasn’t about the lopsided score, it was about how on earth Ball keeps making the impossible seem routine.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Ball went through the middle of the defense, took a heavy hit from a defender and somehow put the ball in the hoop while falling. It was the kind of circus shot that would normally be dubbed a ‘fluke’, but for the Hornets’ superstar, it was just another calculated rep.

When asked about the secret behind his highlight-reel finishing, Ball kept it refreshingly simple. He credited his coach and the unconventional reps he did behind the scenes.

“I mean, me and my guy March have been working on it, so I think I’ve been working on all my shots,” Ball said after the win. When a reporter pressed him on whether he specifically practiced falling shots because of how “pretty” they look, he didn’t even blink. “Yeah, to be honest, I work on all my shots.”

“I work on all my shots.”

LaMelo practices every possible look… even shots where he’s falling through contact! https://t.co/vu0P5BSQlJ pic.twitter.com/kxT2ut3SpT

– NBA (@NBA) 18 March 2026

That preparation was on full display as the Hornets were missing star center Bam Adebayo from the Heat squad. Ball finished the night with a spectacular triple-double, scoring 30 points and 13 assists with six rebounds. He remained efficient throughout the field, making 11 of 22 shots from the field and missing four of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc.

Without Adebayo to bolster the interior, Charlotte celebrated a turnaround, powered entirely by Ball’s elite vision and pace. The Hornets effectively closed out the contest with a huge surge in the second half, leaving Miami with no answers. For a team looking to finish 2026 strong, Ball’s magic is looking like a science.

The Charlotte Hornets may have the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooting duo this season, but rookie guard Kon Nueppel didn’t seem entirely convinced about the nickname suggestion for himself and LaMelo Ball.

During the pregame broadcast before Charlotte’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Prime Video on Saturday afternoon, broadcaster Taylor Rooks floated a possible nickname for the pair after Knueppel struggled to come up with a name herself.

Rooks noted how the Golden State Warriors duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson earned the nickname “Splash Brothers” during their peak while leading the league in three-pointers made.

Since Charlotte’s backcourt was also producing from beyond the arc, Rooks suggested the nickname “Buzz Brothers” for Knueppel and Ball.

Knueppel responded in a light-hearted manner.

“What about the Buzz Brothers?” ???

Con Knuppel: “It’s okay.” 😅@TaylorRooks Get creative with Kon Nueppel and LaMelo Ball’s nicknames 🤙 pic.twitter.com/IhW1panTCV

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

“It’s fine. It’s fine,” he said, laughing.

‘Buzz Brothers’ idea came up when Kon Nueppel, LaMelo Ball led NBA in three-pointers

The moment highlighted the growing chemistry between Charlotte’s young backcourt as both players rank among the league’s most productive shooters from deep.

Entering Saturday’s contest, Knueppel leads the NBA with 233 three-pointers, while Ball is third in the league with 202. Their combined perimeter production has been a key factor in Charlotte’s offensive identity throughout the season.

At halftime of Saturday’s game, San Antonio held a 59-46 lead over Charlotte.

夏洛特黄蜂队可能拥有本赛季 NBA 最多产的三分球二人组，但新秀后卫康·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel) 似乎并不完全相信为自己和拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball) 起的绰号建议。

周六下午，在Prime Video上夏洛特与圣安东尼奥马刺队比赛前的赛前转播中，在克努佩尔自己努力想出一个昵称后，广播员泰勒·鲁克斯(Taylor Rooks)为这对搭档提出了一个可能的绰号。

鲁克斯提到了金州勇士队的斯蒂芬·库里和克莱·汤普森二人组如何在巅峰时期赢得“水花兄弟”的绰号，同时在三分球方面领先联盟。

由于夏洛特的后场也在三分线外进攻，鲁克斯建议给克努佩尔和鲍尔起了“巴斯兄弟”的绰号。

克努佩尔的反应很轻松。

“巴斯兄弟呢？” 😂

康·克努佩尔：“没关系。” 😅@泰勒鲁克斯 用 Kon Knueppel 和 LaMelo Ball 的绰号发挥创意🤙 pic.twitter.com/IhW1panTCV

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 2026 年 3 月 14 日

“没关系，没关系，”他笑着说道。

随着康·克努佩尔、拉梅洛·鲍尔三分领先 NBA，“巴斯兄弟”的想法应运而生

这一时刻突显了夏洛特年轻后场之间日益增长的化学反应，两名球员继续跻身联盟最高效的三分射手之列。

进入周六的比赛，克努佩尔以 233 个三分球领先全联盟，而鲍尔则以 202 个三分球排名联盟第三。他们的外线输出合计是夏洛特整个赛季进攻端的关键因素。

周六比赛半场结束时，马刺队以 59-46 领先夏洛特队。

In years past, facing the Charlotte Hornets meant only two things: 1. It’s an automatic win and 2. The Stars don’t have to play hard.

But fighting hornets is no longer an easy task these days. The Stars will have to bring their A-game to keep up with Charlotte’s high-octane offense led by LaMelo Ball.

Ball has always had talent, but due to injuries he has struggled to stay on the field. This season, he stayed healthy, reminding everyone that he is still one of the premier players in the league.

Ball accomplished another historic feat in their win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, as he became fastest player To reach 900 three-pointers in NBA history. Ball accomplished the feat in just 287 games, breaking Duncan Robinson’s previous record of 305 games.

LaMelo Ball just added another historic shooting mark to his resume!

The Hornets star is now the fastest player in NBA history to reach 900 career 3-pointers, doing so in just 287 games.

Melo’s deep range, fearless pull-ups and consistent green light from beyond the arc… pic.twitter.com/NjUGLnKXN7

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 12 March 2026

Just imagine how much faster Ball would have done it had he not missed so many games.

He finished with 30 points and six three-pointers, including one in front of the Kings’ bench. After this, he spent some quality time with Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk.

LaMelo blanks the corner 3 in front of the Kings bench, and Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk are laughing on the bench (with replay) pic.twitter.com/jvlkoLASlH

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 12 March 2026

Any guesses on what Ball told them?

With Ball, who is averaging 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.1 steals, at the helm, the Hornets have become a threat in the Eastern Conference. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games. At one point, they had a nine-game winning streak, their longest since the 1997–1998 season.

Of course, the 24-year-old Ball isn’t doing it alone. The arrival of Kon Knuppel has certainly boosted the Hornets, while Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate have provided steady support. Adding Coby White at the trade deadline was a smart move.

Barring any unexpected setbacks, the Hornets are finally on track to end their nine-year playoff drought.

The Charlotte Hornets’ 10-game winning streak ended after a 111–99 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Charlotte had not lost on the road since January 17 against the Golden State Warriors, but suffered losses at the hands of Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie, who scored 30, 24 and 24 points, respectively.

For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists, going 9-19 from the field. That performance means Ball is now only the 8th player in the NBA to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 100 games before the age of 25, which is the most in franchise history, according to a post on X by ESPN Insights.

LaMelo Ball has 100 games scoring at least 20 PTS, 5 REB and 5 AST, the most in Hornets history.

He is only the 8th player in NBA history to play 100 such games before the age of 25.

Others include LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Magic… pic.twitter.com/T3KLyL8lJ2

– ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) 9 March 2026

Others to accomplish this feat include some current and future greats, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Magic Johnson, meaning Ball finds himself in truly elite company. Despite this, the Hornets started the game fast, making 9 of their first 11 shots and shooting 36% from the field for the rest of the game.

Booker had a double-double, as well as adding 10 assists despite shooting only 1-6 from beyond the arc. He converted all 15 of his free throw attempts while the Hornets made 10 of their 15 free throw attempts on the night.

Rookie Rasheer Fleming added 16 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Phoenix has now won four of its last five games, despite Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams and Grayson Allen being sidelined with injuries.

Kon Knueppel had a particularly poor game from the three-point zone, making only two of his eight attempts and finishing with 15 points and four assists. For Charlotte, the other leading scorers were Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller, who had 16 and 11 points, respectively.

The loss pushed the Hornets below the .500 mark with a 32–33 record, good for No. 10 in the Eastern Conference. Their next match will be against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile, the Suns improved to 37-27 for the season and will next visit the Milwaukee Bucks.

On Sunday evening, the Charlotte Hornets got back in the win column with an easy win over the Washington Wizards. It was an epic game for point guard LaMelo Ball, who scored 37 points in the win on an absurd 10-of-15 from beyond the three-point line.

At one point in the game, Ball hit four consecutive threes in a span of 99 seconds, and on the next Hornets possession, team announcer Eric Collins was openly eager for the star point guard to launch another one.

However, the ball passing the ball finished To teammate Brandon Miller, who turned it to Josh Green for an open three from the corner, which found the bottom of the net.

LaMelo Ball hits four consecutive 3s in just 99 seconds (with replays)

The Hornets’ announcer, Eric Collins, tells him to take the other 3 but he does not.

lamello-crazy

I think the world’s a better place when LaMelo isn’t driving

Bub Carrington was also injured and… pic.twitter.com/SNWspQOi0n

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 23 February 2026

Collins has long been known for his enthusiasm on the air, which has drawn mixed reactions from fans across the league. However, his passion for Hornets basketball cannot be denied, and his sentiment of launching the ball three times in a row seems to be shared by everyone else on the arena.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are now 27-31 on the season, getting close to the .500 mark after some tough losses at home in the last week or so.

While his driving skills leave a lot to be desired, Ball has been playing some of the best basketball of his career for the Hornets over the past month, leading the team to a recent nine-game winning streak and a return to postseason status in the Eastern Conference.

Of course, there is still much to be sorted out during the season, and the Hornets’ schedule will see an increase in strength compared to the rest of the campaign.

However, for now, Charlotte fans will have to be happy with what they are seeing from their budding young team.

The Hornets next face off against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday evening.

The Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is undoubtedly a talented player, and the buzz surrounding him generally stems from his ability on the court. However, recently, Ball’s driving skills have been discussed by many social media users, as he was recently involved in a two-car collision in downtown Charlotte at the busy Tread and Triton intersection.

Since the accident occurred on Thursday, days after he suited up for the Hornets in a matchup against the Houston Rockets, Ball was seen driving more cautiously in Charlotte, according to a post on Instagram by SportsCulture, with several social media users reacting to the recent incidents by saying that his poor driving was a regular occurrence.

As can be seen in the comments, many users talked about several incidents where Ball was seen driving recklessly, with some claiming that he came close to colliding with other vehicles and even people on several occasions. Although it is not clear whether social media users were joking that where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

Therefore, Ball being a bad driver seems to be a common sentiment among Charlotte residents, with many claiming to be aware of incidents where he was seen driving wildly.

Of course, the initial accident hints at something similar, with Ball’s Hummer appearing to collide with another car that had the right of way. However, the post-accident clip, in which LaMelo was seen driving his red Rolls-Royce Cullinan, shows a stark difference.

This time, Ball was seen driving cautiously around a turn and seemed intent on ensuring that he did not collide with any other vehicle. This will be a huge relief to fans, who are well aware of Ball’s importance to the Hornets.

The Charlotte Hornets missed a chance to get a big win over the Houston Rockets, losing 105-101 at the Spectrum Center on Thursday night, but LaMelo Ball is grateful he was even able to play. Following the loss, the star point guard spoke on the car accident he was involved in on Wednesday.

According to Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Ball told the media, “Unfortunate, {but} everybody’s good, so good blessings.” “God is great.”

The 24-year-old, who was driving a custom-built Hummer through an intersection, collided with another vehicle in downtown Charlotte. Footage from the scene shows Ball drifting out of his lane and into another car. However, it is still not completely clear what exactly caused the accident. One wheel of the Hummer rolled off after the collision, but it is difficult to say when it started coming loose.

LaMelo’s postgame press conference: Reaction to the accident, his game tonight and more. pic.twitter.com/1CfT3J9jPh

– Rod Boon (@rodboon) 20 February 2026

Thankfully, as the former Rookie of the Year said, no one was seriously hurt. The other person involved in the accident exited his vehicle immediately after the accident. After police arrived at the scene, Ball drove away in a Lamborghini that had come to pick him up. A reporter asked him why he walked away from the wreck, but the 2022 All-Star did not answer the question. “No, you’ll have to check it out,” he replied.

LaMelo Ball was apparently unable to drive the Hummer, so it makes sense that he would call for a ride. One would assume that he had provided the necessary information to the police and the other driver before leaving the scene. However, because of his history on the road, people will be extra curious about the accident.

Video compilations can be found in which he is shown driving recklessly. In 2024, a woman filed a lawsuit against the Hornets playmaker for running over her son’s foot. The child and other people huddled around Ball’s vehicle before it was driven away from the field. He denied responsibility, claiming that the boy harmed himself.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft clearly wants to put this latest incident behind him immediately. A day after the accident, he posted 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting with seven assists and seven rebounds.

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee discussed LaMelo Ball’s recent car accident ahead of Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets. Fortunately, Ball and no one else were injured in the car accident, which was of most importance to the Hornets head coach.

Lee addressed Ball’s car accident during his Pregame media availability.

“The first thing you do when you hear about any type of accident is you hope that all parties involved are okay, that they’re healthy and safe,” Lee said. “So, he felt good today, ready to go, and he’ll be ready to play tonight.”

“The first thing you do when you hear about any type of accident is you hope that all parties involved are OK, that they’re healthy and safe.”

Hornets head coach Charles Lee on LaMelo Ball’s car accident.

(via @DaShawnWSOC9)pic.twitter.com/HFKVh6VFoU https://t.co/n8JgD68DL9

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 20 February 2026

The video of the car accident surfaced on social media on Wednesday. LaMelo Ball is expected to start for Charles Lee and the Hornets in Thursday’s game.

New video of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball’s car accident

Following the initial footage, a new video of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball’s car accident shows him colliding with another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction from a different angle. When he side-swipes another car, the ball moves slightly to his left and into the opposing lane.

New video offers a closer look The impact of a ball colliding with oncoming traffic in downtown Charlotte.

LaMelo Ball veered into oncoming traffic🤔 pic.twitter.com/iGl9rsEu92

– BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) 19 February 2026

Ball and the Hornets entered the All-Star break winning nine of their last 10 games and improving to 26–29, the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference standings. Ball has scored 20+ points in four of his last five games, including a 24-point performance in the Hornets’ 110–107 win against the Hawks, which snapped a nine-game winning streak.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was recently involved in a scary car accident. Fortunately, reports indicate that no one was injured. A new video has surfaced showing a new angle of the accident.

In the clip originally shared on Instagram, you can see the driver’s side tire of Ball’s car explode immediately after colliding with another vehicle. It’s not entirely clear who was at fault, but it seems the 24-year-old guard was trying to turn while the other driver veered into the middle of the lane.

Another side of LaMelo’s car accident 😬 pic.twitter.com/O7Q8CfSQAv

– NBCCentral (@TheDunkCentral) 19 February 2026

Ball has a bit of a history of bad driving. So much so that a compilation clip of his driving skills went viral in 2024. He has a history of running red lights and turning onto the roadway into traffic. Although Wednesday’s accident may not have been his fault, the six-year NBA veteran is an extremely bad driver.

Someone compiled a clip of LaMelo Ball’s reckless and dangerous driving from the Charlotte Hornets Arena 😳 pic.twitter.com/6C48PDc6E6

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 May 2024

LaMelo Ball was not injured in the crash in Uptown Charlotte, nor was anyone else involved. That means Ball is expected to play for the Hornets on Thursday when the team takes on the Houston Rockets. This will be the club’s first game after the All-Star break.

The star point guard has played 45 games so far this season. However, Ball is facing a bit of a setback compared to the rest of his career. He enters Thursday’s contest averaging 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds (career-low), 7.4 assists (career-low), and 1.1 steals (career-low) per game. He is shooting 40.1% from the field (career-low) and 36.3% from beyond the three-point line.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was recently involved in a car accident in Uptown. Video released shows Ball’s Hummer colliding with a car as the two were passing through an intersection. The car the ball hit stopped immediately, the driver got out, and went to the Hornets guard to see if he was OK.

It is not certain who was at fault for the accident, but it seems that both parties are safe.

Witnesses told local news that the sedan was heading east on Trade Street, while Ball was heading west. He tried to go left on the one-way road, which is why the collision occurred. Eyewitnesses also claimed that when Ball got out of the Hummer, he got into a Lamorgini. Both the Hummer and the sedan were towed.

Ball has received criticism for his driving over the years. Several videos have been posted of him exiting the Spectrum Center and driving away at speed.

The Hornets are set to play the Houston Rockets at home on Thursday, and so far, it doesn’t look like Ball will suffer any injuries as a result of the accident.

Over the past few weeks, the Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the league and have climbed up the Eastern Conference standings after once missing out on the play-ins. They are now seeded ninth, and have plenty of time to make a move up the standings if they continue to play like this.