The Charlotte Hornets have had a decent start to the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. That is also because their star player, LaMelo Ball, is back after recovering from his wrist and ankle injuries. He’s averaging 26.3 points per game, pushing the team towards a better result this season. However, Tuesday’s frustrating 117-144 loss vs. the Miami Heat also brought trouble for Melo.

Ball has officially opened the 2025–26 NBA season’s fine book, and he did it with flair. The Charlotte Hornets star owes the league $35,000 after flashing a middle finger at a referee in frustration over a charge call during the fourth quarter of a loss to Miami. After earning a technical foul for flipping off a referee, the league added extra weight to his wallet’s burden. The additional fine sealed his fate, leaving LaMelo Ball lighter in the pockets and heavier in lessons.

According to the official league release, the fine stemmed from an incident at 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Oct. 28 game at the Miami Heat’s home arena. Notably, this mark is added onto a growing discipline ledger: Ball has previously been fined US$100,000 by the league for an “offensive and derogatory comment” during a post-game interview in November 2024.

Moreover, LaMelo Ball’s name has been on the league’s fine list before. But this latest episode adds another spark to his fiery reputation. Though Thursday’s penalty marks only the second of his career, it serves as a reminder that his passion often runs ahead of his patience. For him, trouble almost seems to follow with applause.

LaMelo Ball’s history with fines since his NBA debut

The league first warned LaMelo Ball in 2021 for violating the anti-flopping rule. No fine followed, but the message was clear. Then last season, he crossed the line for real. After a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Ball dropped “offensive and derogatory” words on live TV, earning his first official fine and a reputation for raw honesty.

This season, though, Ball’s letting his game do the talking. Through his first four outings, he’s averaging 26.3 points with 44% shooting from the field and a sizzling 39% from three on 10.8 attempts. Add 9.5 assists, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, and you get a stat line that screams control and confidence. Still, Charlotte’s 2-2 record keeps expectations steady but watchful.

Since entering the league at 19 in 2020, LaMelo Ball has shone as the centerpiece of the Hornets’ hopes. He has played 231 games, averaging 21.0 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 36% from deep. The Hornets, still chasing their first playoff appearance since 2015–16, now look to Ball to bridge promise with performance.

LaMelo Ball plays like a storm in sneakers. Unpredictable, thrilling, and impossible to ignore. His fire sometimes costs him, yet it fuels everything that makes him magnetic. This season feels personal, like a comeback wrapped in rebellion. Through every fine, every flash, and every roar from the crowd, Ball stands exactly where he belongs: at the heart of Charlotte’s chaos and hope.