Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball emerged unscathed from a car accident in Uptown Charlotte on Thursday and played in his team's game the next night. The incident involved a collision with an oncoming vehicle, but no serious injuries were reported. Ball expressed relief, stating he felt 'alive and blessed.'
LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets' guard, was involved in a frightening car accident in Uptown Charlotte on Thursday after practice. His custom Hummer collided nearly head-on with an oncoming vehicle, resulting in the front driver's-side tire coming off. The car was towed from the scene, but Ball left shortly after with permission from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The other driver received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene and did not require hospitalization, according to reports. No police report has been made public yet. Ball was spotted being picked up by a black Lamborghini following the incident, with police present.
Despite the crash, Ball suited up for the Hornets' home game against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, contributing 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 31 minutes during a 105-101 loss. After the game, Ball addressed the accident, saying, "I'm just alive and blessed for real. So, God is great." He added, "Fortunately, everybody is cool, so blessings."
Ball, who joined the Hornets as the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and was selected as an All-Star in 2022. In November 2024, he was fined $100,000 by the NBA for an offensive and derogatory homophobic comment during a courtside interview, the maximum under league guidelines.
One report placed the accident on Wednesday, but details align with Thursday timing preceding the Friday game.
