LaMelo Ball denies Hornets frustration: ‘I love being here’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – LaMelo Ball says he wants to stay with the Charlotte Hornets despite the team’s struggles and growing speculation about his future outside the organization.
“I love being here,” Ball said Friday after practice in Charlotte. “I’m not saying anything. I’m just trying to win, that’s all. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Hornets coach Charles Lee said Ball, who became the team’s first max contract player in July 2023 when he signed a $260 million contract, remains a cornerstone of the organization.
“He plays a very important role in what we do, offensively and defensively,” Lee said.
The comments followed a report from Yahoo Sports, citing unnamed sources, that the 2022 All-Star point guard was growing frustrated with the Hornets’ losses and was open to a trade. Ball appeared to object to the report, reposting the story on social media Thursday with a clown emoji.
The Hornets are 4-11 and haven’t made the playoffs since Ball arrived as the No. 3 pick in 2020.
“He never heard it come from me, so the source didn’t come from me,” Ball said. “So it’s just false information.”
Ball said he doesn’t like to comment on rumors, but feels he needs to speak out before the information gets out of hand.
“When they get too big, you know, you gotta say something,” Ball said. “It was so big that it made the headlines on Bleacher Report and this and that, so I didn’t want it to continue.”
Lee, the team’s second-year coach, said he has a great working relationship with Ball and was excited to learn the sixth-year pro was committed to the Hornets building a winning franchise.
“I’m glad to hear what he had to say because I would echo a lot of the same things,” Lee said. “Our ability to communicate between me and Melo and [GM Jeff Peterson] is really high, and I think he always let us know that he wanted to build this thing with us.
“He understands what it’s going to take to try to win and who we need in the building and everything, so I think he’s just committed to Charlotte. He’s talked about how much he loves the city and the fans, and that’s all I’ve ever heard and that’s all I’m focused on.”
Charlotte opened the season with a healthy dose of optimism, but shooting guard Brandon Miller injured his shoulder in the second game of the season and hasn’t played since.
Ball, 24, played in just nine games due to a sprained right ankle. He’s back on the field now but remains on a minutes restriction.
In his first five seasons, Ball only played in 231 of 410 games, primarily due to ankle issues. He’s tried various braces along the way, but nothing seems to have completely fixed the problem.
Ball is averaging 21.6 points and 9.6 assists per game this season, but he has struggled to knock down his shot, posting career lows in field goal percentage (.385) and 3-point percentage (.298).
Even if the Hornets wanted to move Ball, it would require a huge commitment from a trade partner. Ball is under contract through the 2029-30 season and has just over $168 million remaining on his contract, including $37.9 million this season.
Ball said his goal is to get things done in Charlotte and build a winner.
“There are ups and downs,” Ball said. “We’re down right now, but we’re definitely going to come back up. I’m still confident in this whole group and everyone here.”
The Hornets host the LA Clippers on Saturday.
