LaVar Ball defends son LaMelo after Bam Adebayo tripping incident, rips Erik Spoelstra: ‘We ain’t getting stepped on’ originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Charlotte Hornets‘ biggest win in several years was an absolute thriller, but it didn’t come without controversy.
The Miami Heat played most of the game without big man Bam Adebayo after he took a hard fall on the baseline and suffered a back injury early in the second quarter. Replay showed Hornets guard LaMelo Ball take a swipe at Adebayo’s ankle, seemingly knocking him to the floor.
Ball wasn’t called for a foul, but the NBA upgraded the incident to a flagrant foul on Wednesday and issued a fine, declining to suspend the former No. 3 pick for the Hornets’ win-or-go-home game against the Orlando Magic on Friday.
On Wednesday, Ball’s outspoken father took shots at some of his son’s critics, including Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Here’s what LaVar Ball had to say in a fiery rant in defense of his son.
MORE:Why wasn’t LaMelo Ball suspended?
LaVar Ball calls out Erik Spoelstra
Lamelo Ball’s father, LaVar, hit back at his son’s critics in a video recorded on the set of his “Big Baller Podcast.”
LaVar defended his son’s actions, arguing there was no way LaMelo could have taken Adebayo down with one swipe at the ankle.
“I’m trying to figure how somebody could lay on their back, and with their left hand flip over a man 260 pounds,” LaVar said.
After calling out media personalities Nick Wright and Jason Whitlock for their takes on the tripping incident and insulting their physical appearance, Ball hit Spoelstra as well.
“[Erik] Spoelstra, don’t be making all these excuses talking about you don’t want to make any excuses,” LaVar said.
LAVAR BALL JUST RESPONDED TO NICK WRIGHT, JASON WHITLOCK AND CALLS OUT ERIK SPOELSTRA FOR LAMELO BALL
🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/gR53UqIzqX
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 16, 2026
Spoelstra told reporters after Tuesday’s game that he believed Ball should have been ejected.
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play,” Spoelstra said. “He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that.”
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play…I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.“
— Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo’s play on Bam.
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 15, 2026
LaVar saw the play differently, making the case Wednesday that his son was just reacting to “getting stepped on.”
“If somebody falling on top of me, you best believe I’m gonna put my hands up and do all kinds of stuff,” LaVar said. “That’s just how the Balls are taught. We do some dangerous stuff. Get out the way. Cause we ain’t getting stepped on.”
That might be how Balls are taught, but the NBA doesn’t approve. While the league declined to suspend Ball, a $35,000 fine issued Wednesday indicated the NBA believes his actions were enough to warrant a flagrant foul. Had the call been made during the game, which went to overtime, the result could have turned out much differently.
MORE: What is the format of the NBA’s play-in tournament?
LaMelo Ball trips Bam Adebayo
After hitting the floor when his attempt to finish near the rim was blocked, Ball appeared to take a swipe at Adebayo’s ankle. Adebayo went down hard as a result and went to the locker room with a back injury. He did not return, and the Heat suffered a 127-126 overtime loss.
Is this a dirty play by LaMelo? pic.twitter.com/tPebBPDLDC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 15, 2026
After the game, Ball regretted the incident.
“I apologize on that one,” he told reporters. “I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was, but I’m gonna check on him.”
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