LaMelo Ball unfazed by Bam Adebayo incident: 'It's all basketball'

Hornets star says he tried to apologize to Heat center after controversial play, but Adebayo was unavailable.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:51pm

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LaMelo Ball is moving on from the controversial play in which he appeared to trip up Heat center Bam Adebayo, causing him to fall hard on his back. Ball was fined $60,000 for the incident, but says he tried to apologize to Adebayo after the game, though the Heat player was unavailable. Ball insists there are no hard feelings and that he's focused on the Hornets' upcoming play-in game against the Magic.

Why it matters

The incident between Ball and Adebayo sparked controversy, with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra calling it a 'stupid play' and saying Ball should have been ejected. The play could have implications for the upcoming playoffs, as the Hornets and Heat are competing for seeding in the Eastern Conference.

The details

In the second quarter of Tuesday's game between the Hornets and Heat, Ball appeared to grab Adebayo's leg, causing the Heat center to take a hard fall on his back. Adebayo missed the rest of the game, which the Hornets won in overtime 127-126. Ball was fined $60,000 for the incident, with $35,000 for the foul (which was retroactively upgraded to a flagrant 2) and $25,000 for cursing in a postgame interview.

  • The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Hornets-Heat game on April 14, 2026.
  • Ball was fined $60,000 by the NBA following the game.

The players

LaMelo Ball

A star player for the Charlotte Hornets who was at the center of a controversial play involving Heat center Bam Adebayo.

Bam Adebayo

The Miami Heat's All-Star center who was injured in the controversial play with LaMelo Ball.

Erik Spoelstra

The head coach of the Miami Heat, who was critical of the play involving Ball and Adebayo.

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What they’re saying

“'I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. I don't think that belongs in the game. Tripping guys, those shenanigans. He should have been thrown out of the game for that.'”

— Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat Head Coach

“'By that time, I was in the shower trying to figure out what I was going to do next. Obviously, everything happened all at once, and I wanted to be out there. At some point, I'll see him again, and we'll have that conversation, and we'll move on.'”

— Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat Center

“'Whenever I see him, [I will] try to talk to him. After the game, I tried to talk to him. I was waiting by his locker room and just talking to the security guard, waiting for him. But he said he was in the shower, and it's a tough game. I mean, you lose, you don't really like talking to people. So I just gave him his space pretty much and he said he'd get with me. There was a lot going on.'”

— LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Guard

What’s next

The Hornets and Magic will face off in a play-in game on Friday, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and a first-round matchup against the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons.

The takeaway

The incident between LaMelo Ball and Bam Adebayo has sparked debate about sportsmanship and player safety in the NBA, but Ball is focused on moving forward and helping the Hornets make a playoff push. The upcoming play-in game against the Magic will be a crucial test for Charlotte as they look to secure a postseason berth.