Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball said a report that he’s “grown increasingly frustrated” with the franchise and would be open to a trade is inaccurate.
Responding to a direct question about the report during a Friday post-practice media availability in Charlotte, Ball said: “(The reporter) never heard that come from me, so the source is not from me. So it’s false info. I gotta let him know. I really don’t like commenting back on stuff, but when it gets too big, you (have) got to do something.”
The questions on Friday, and Ball’s responses, stemmed from a Yahoo! Sports report that was published Thursday. The report also said that the Hornets’ front office has become disillusioned with the 24-year-old and is open to moving him.
Ball, 24, was drafted in 2020 third overall by the Hornets, and the team has not qualified for the playoffs in any of his five full seasons. During the 2021-22 season, Charlotte posted a 43-39 record but lost in an Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament game. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Hornets have amassed a 71-190 record, including a 4-11 record this season.
Because of injuries, Ball has not played more than 47 games in any of the Hornets’ last three full seasons.
Asked if he’s “content” with the Hornets, Ball answered, “Yeah, I love being here. I ain’t saying nothing. I’m just trying to win, that’s it. That’s what we’re going to keep doing.”
Ball is in the second season of a five-year contract worth a guaranteed total of $203.9 million.
Compiling eye-popping statistics has never been a problem for Ball, who is averaging 21.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game this season.
But he’s still attempting to regain his form after he played in only 47 games last season, and because he missed six games this season because of a right-ankle impingement. He’s made only 39 percent of his shot attempts from the field and only 30 percent of his 3-point tries, both career lows, and also has a reputation as a below-average, disengaged defender.
Hornets coach Charles Lee spoke to reporters after Ball’s question-and-answer session and was told about Ball’s comments Friday.
“I’m glad to hear what he had to say because I would echo a lot of the same things,” Lee said. “Our relationship, our ability to have communication between myself and Melo and (Hornets) president of basketball operations Jeff (Peterson) is really high, and I think that he’s always communicated to us (that) he wants 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 stuff, so I think that he is just committed to Charlotte. He’s talked about how much he loves the city and the fans, and that’s all I ever hear and that’s all I focus on.”