The Charlotte Hornets have another legal matter on their hands just one month after their final game of the 2023-2024 season. As first reported by a local news site, star point guard LaMelo Ball will be at the center of an upcoming lawsuit.
The incident allegedly occurred in October 2023 at the team’s ‘Purple and Teal Day’ fan event. Both Ball and the Hornets will be subjects of the lawsuit, though specific charges were not released in the initial report.
Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball at the Center of Upcoming Lawsuit
An 11-year-old was waiting outside the Spectrum Center after the Hornets' Purple and Teal Day. He wanted an autograph from LaMelo Ball
His mom says Ball didn't sign anything. He sped off in his car and drove over the 11-year-old's foot, breaking it.
A lawsuit has been filed… pic.twitter.com/fsvnmQVRNV
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 21, 2024
According to a report from WSOC-TV, the Charlotte Hornets and LaMelo Ball will be on the receiving end of a lawsuit over the summer. North Carolina resident Tamaria McRae will be suing both parties with unspecific charges for allegedly injuring her 11-year-old son, Angell Joseph.
McRae claims that Joseph approached Ball on Oct. 7, 2023 after the fan-centric ‘Purple and Teal Day at the Hive’ event. Joseph eagerly looked for an autograph from Ball, who ignored the young fan and drove away in his car. McRae says that during the heartless act, the 22-year-old had run over her son’s foot, causing it to break.
Per official reports, McRae alleged that Joseph was “depressed” during his physical recovery from the injury while mentally having to deal with being neglected and harmed by his idol.
The family lawyer, Cameron DeBrun, told WSOC-TV that McRae planned on pressing charges earlier to have Ball pay for Joseph’s medical bills but local police told them they were missing key information to complete the case.
While Ball will be the center of the lawsuit, McRae believes the team should also be held accountable, and intends to sue the Charlotte Hornets. No charges were made public but McRae and DeBrun’s statements indicate potential accusations of assault and negligence.
LaMelo Ball’s rough 2023-2024 campaign
In his fourth season with the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball had arguably his worst season as a professional, appearing in just 22 games while being a part of just seven wins.
For most of the year, Ball dealt with nagging injuries primarily with his ankle. In March, the team officially shut him down for the rest of the season.
Statistically, Ball’s scoring improved for the fourth straight season, averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game. However, the Chino Hills native averaged just 5.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists, down from 6.4 and 8.4 in 2022-2023. Ball also saw a decline in his three-point shooting and turnover rate.
It remains unclear how long the lawsuit may last or how it could affect the young guard’s career but the entire 2023-2024 campaign appears to be one that Ball would like to throw in the can. The recently concluded year marked the first of five on a contract extension that the former third-overall pick signed before the season began.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst.
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