NBA star LaMelo Ball has spoken out after he received a huge $100,000 (£79,000) for comments made in a post-match interview.
The Charlotte Hornets guard made the comments after his side saw out a narrow 115-114 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
The Hornets secured the win having prevented Bucks’ power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo from scoring with the last possession of the game.
Speaking shortly after the win about his team’s defensive strategy for the final play, Ball told reporters: ‘Yeah, we loaded up [in defence] – no homo.
‘But that’s what we wanted. Put the hand up, and then just live with the results.’
Ball has been given the maximum fine possible under current guidelines, with the NBA labelling the comments as ‘offensive and derogatory’ in a statement.
The 23-year-old was quick to apologise for his comments, telling reporters after Sunday’s 128-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers: ‘I really didn’t mean anything and don’t want to offend anybody.
‘I’ve got love for everybody, and I don’t discriminate,’ he added.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee, meanwhile, said the organisation had spoken to Ball regarding his comments.
‘As an organisation, that is obviously not something we condone,’ he said. ‘Our standards and what is required of our players in the environment we create is really important to us.
‘I spoke to Melo and he’s obviously very apologetic. From what I’ve seen since I’ve been around him, he loves everyone. He’s a joy to have around the facility and it’s not typically how he operates.
‘He and I talked about the seriousness of the situation and how he needs to conduct himself going forward. He definitely said going forward, ‘I’m going to be better,’ and I want to see that happen
‘So for somebody to use those words and say that out of his mouth, we will make sure to hold him accountable to that.’
Anthony Edwards was previously $40,000 (£31,500) in 2022 for using homophobic language on Instagram, while Kevin Durant was slapped with a $50,000 (£39,500) fine the year prior after private messages containing homophobic and misogynistic slurs were leaked.
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