LaMelo Ball Questions Hornets' Coaching After Play-In Loss to Magic

Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball suggests the team waited too long to put the ball in his hands in their NBA Play-In Tournament loss to the Orlando Magic.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:24pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game in progress, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors, conveying the raw emotion and energy of the game.LaMelo Ball's frustration with the Hornets' coaching boils over after a crushing Play-In Tournament defeat, exposing the team's ongoing struggles to build a winning culture around their star player.Today in Miami

After the Charlotte Hornets were eliminated from the NBA Play-In Tournament with a loss to the Orlando Magic, star guard LaMelo Ball publicly questioned the team's gameplan, suggesting they waited too long to put the ball in his hands. Ball finished with 23 points, 21 of which came in the third quarter after the Hornets were already down big. This comes after Ball was involved in a controversial play in the Hornets' previous Play-In game where he tripped and injured Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, which Ball denied was intentional.

Why it matters

Ball's comments raise questions about the Hornets' coaching and whether there are tensions between the star player and the team's leadership. As the face of the franchise, Ball's public criticism of the coaching staff is noteworthy and could foreshadow potential offseason changes or even Ball's own future in Charlotte, as he has yet to lead the team to the playoffs in his six seasons.

The details

With a chance to clinch their first playoff berth in a decade, the Hornets were blown out by the Magic in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Ball finished with 23 points, but 21 of them came in the third quarter after the Hornets were already down big. Ball suggested the team waited too long to put the ball in his hands, saying 'I just feel like it was just too late, I should have done it from the jump for real.'

  • The Hornets lost to the Magic in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • In the Hornets' previous Play-In game, Ball was involved in a controversial play where he tripped and injured Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The star guard of the Charlotte Hornets, who has played six seasons with the team but has yet to lead them to the playoffs.

Bam Adebayo

The starting center for the Miami Heat, who was injured in a play involving LaMelo Ball in the Hornets' previous Play-In game.

Orlando Magic

The team that defeated the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Play-In Tournament, eliminating them from playoff contention.

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What they’re saying

“I just feel like it was just too late, I should have done it from the jump for real. We were doing a lot of plays and stuff and getting pushed around and everything. I feel like I should've just taken the ball from the beginning.”

— LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Guard

“Obviously [it] hurt a lot, but I feel like it's all just learning lessons. You live, you learn, you evolve, and you move on, you know?”

— LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Guard

“It's all basketball. I feel like Bam knows. We never had nothing going on, you know what I'm saying? I never had really [anything with] anybody. Go out there and play basketball. Even [on] the one before, I [saw] him, try to foul him, stuff like that. … We don't want nobody hurt in this league ever. So as long as he's good, it's helped [ease] my mind a little.”

— LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Guard

What’s next

It will be an interesting offseason for Ball and the Hornets, as the star player's comments raise questions about the team's coaching and Ball's future in Charlotte. The Hornets will need to evaluate their coaching staff and determine if changes are needed to get the most out of Ball and the team.

The takeaway

LaMelo Ball's public criticism of the Hornets' coaching after their Play-In Tournament loss highlights the growing frustration around the team's lack of success. As the face of the franchise, Ball's comments put pressure on the organization to make changes and build a winning team around their star player. The Hornets' offseason will be crucial in determining if they can finally end their playoff drought and unlock Ball's full potential.