LaMelo Ball reacts to his 1st career ejection / News - Basketnews.com

LaMelo Ball was ejected for the first time in his career, as Hornets guard admitted that he lost composure.

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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was ejected for the first time in his career after arguing with the referees about the play in the fourth quarter.

LaMelo Ball

MIN:34.65PTS:22.96 (46.99%)REB:5.77As:8.19ST:1.15BL:0.38TO:3.35GM:26ProfileNBA2022/2023

With 1:26 remaining in the game, Ball made a steal and went up for a dunk on the other end of the floor when he was met at the rim by Zach LaVine.

Ball lost the ball in the air after the apparent contact but did not draw a foul, which prompted him to swing his arms at the basket stanchion in frustration.

Ball argued with the referees, claiming he was hit in the arm but received the first technical foul when making a slapping motion. The 21-year-old continued arguing with the officials, resulting in a second technical foul and an ejection.

"I just lost my composure pretty much," Ball said after the game. "It's just kind of hard when you know it's a 1-on-1, and you expect the refs to make the right call, and you get smacked on the arm, not even the hand. Just one of them things. We got to just go to the next game."

Ball finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 36 minutes on Thursday, one game after becoming Charlotte's all-time leader in triple doubles.

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford admitted that LaMelo lost his composure.

"He knows this. We have one rule - no fourth-quarter technicals," Clifford said after the game. "You can't take them. That's inexcusable because the fourth quarter's different. He does it because he wants to win, but you can't take it there."

Ball said he had a chance to calm down after heading to the locker room and acknowledged he will stay more even-keeled down the stretch.

"It's just a learning lesson," Ball said. "I'll keep it. It's like, you seen LeBron [James], he wanted the foul. I wanted the foul, too. We [are] human. So I calmed down, took a shower, and learned from my mistakes."

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