Will LaMelo Ball be suspended? Why Hornets star could face league discipline for tripping Bam Adebayo

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Will LaMelo Ball be suspended? Why Hornets star could face league discipline for tripping Bam Adebayo originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat played an electric game to kick off the 2026 play-in tournament. The action needed overtime to be settled, and while the Hornets won the game, the victory was shrouded in controversy. 

Apart from some questionable foul calls by the referees, Heat big man Bam Adebayo missed the end of the game. Adebayo fell to the ground after a LaMelo Ball shot attempt and immediately went to put his hand on his lower back. The Heat star was checked out by trainers but taken to the locker room. Adebayo missed the remainder of the game. 

Upon replay, it looked like Ball, who had missed the layup attempt, swiped with his left hand at Adebayo's legs, causing him to trip. This should have been a foul, but it wasn't called. Since no action was taken in the game, the league may review the incident and hand down a suspension to Ball ahead of Charlotte's next play-in game on Friday if deemed necessary. 

Here is more on whether or not Ball will be suspended for the Hornets' next play-in game. 

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LaMelo Ball trips Bam Adebayo

Ball had driven the lane and put up a contested shot attempt that caused him to go to the floor. His shot missed, and Adebayo was trying to go after the rebound. The ball had gone off the rim and looked like it was heading out of bounds before Adebayo stretched and got a hand on it, balancing on his left leg. 

The Hornets guard then swiped at Adebayo's ankle, causing him to lose his balance and the ball on his backside. The sudden impact caused an injury to Adebayo, and he missed the remainder of the game. 

This is not the first time that Ball has been involved with trying to trip Adebayo. When the Hornets and Heat played in January 2024, Ball was once again on the ground and swiped at Adebayo's legs with his hand, despite the ball already being up court. No foul was called in that game.

MORE: Are Hornets in the playoffs after play-in tournament win over Heat?

Why wasn't LaMelo Ball called for a foul?

The Charlotte Observer's Rod Boone was the pool reporter for the game and talked to Crew Chief Zach Zarba following the game. Boone asked, "Why was the play not reviewed in real time?"

Zarba answered, "The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed."

Boone followed up and asked if the play was reviewed later, to which Zarba said, "Our crew. We review all our plays, So, we reviewed the play at halftime." 

The final question of the brief interview was "Should it have risen to the level of a flagrant foul if reviewed?" Zarba responded, "At this point, that goes to league operations, and they’ll make a determination on that in the coming days. So, they will make that determination and go from there."

MORE: What is the format of the NBA's play-in tournament?

Was Bam Adebayo hurt?

Following his sudden fall as a result of Ball tripping him, Adebayo immediately put his hand on his lower back. He was checked out by trainers and taken to the locker room.

Adebayo was ruled out for the remainder of the game. With Miami's loss, their season has come to an end, so Adebayo will have all offseason to properly heal without having to rush back to the court. 

MORE: Bam Adebayo injury update

Will LaMelo Ball be suspended?

Despite no foul call occurring during the game, Ball could still be suspended by the NBA. The league will review the footage and could assess if a suspension is necessary. During games, tripping is usually whistled as a Flagrant 1 or a Flagrant 2, depending on severity and intent.

Given that Ball blatantly reached out and swiped at Adebayo's leg, causing him to fall, if reviewed, this likely would have resulted in a Flagrant 2. If that had happened, Ball would have been ejected from the game. 

The NBA could opt to suspend the Hornets guard for one game as a result of the play. If that is the case, he will miss Charlotte's next play-in game on Friday against the loser of Wednesday night's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic. The NBA could also opt to fine Ball for the play. The league could take Ball's history of trying to trip Adebayo into account with its decision. 

The league is officially reviewing the incident, and a ruling is expected by Friday, per Chris Haynes. 

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