Hornets star LaMelo Ball fined $100K for anti-gay phrase

The NBA fined Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball $100,000 Sunday for using “offensive and derogatory” language during a postgame TV interview.

At issue was an anti-gay phrase Ball used when answering a sideline interviewer’s question about defending the last shot against Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in Charlotte’s 115-114 win over the Bucks on Saturday.

Hornets coach Charles Lee addressed Ball’s remark in his postgame press conference and said Ball was “very apologetic.”

“As an organization, that is obviously not something we condone,” said Lee, who is in his first season as Charlotte’s coach. “Our standards and what is required of our players in the environment we create is really important to us.”

Ball, 23, is averaging 29.6 points through 12 games for the Hornets, ranking fifth in the NBA.