Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was involved in a car accident Wednesday afternoon in uptown Charlotte, but walked away without injury.
LaMelo Ball Involved in Minor Car Collision in Uptown Charlotte
What Happened
The incident occurred around 4:30 PM at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. Ball was driving his custom camo-wrapped Hummer EV when he collided with a Kia sedan. He was apparently attempting a turn onto a one-way street when the collision happened.
Video footage shows Ball’s Hummer with front-end damage, including a detached front wheel. The clip also captured the other driver exiting his vehicle and walking towards Ball’s truck. The damaged looked serious, but the crash was labeled minor.
The Aftermath
After emergency services arrived on the scene, the other driver’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Both vehicles were towed due to the extent of the damage. No charges have been filed at this time, as police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
According to The Charlotte Observer’s Rod Boone, a league source confirmed Ball sustained no injuries. He was seen leaving the scene in a Lamborghini shortly after the accident. Ball appeared shaken but unharmed as he departed.
Ball’s Custom Hummer
Ball’s Hummer EV is a custom vehicle featuring a distinctive camo wrap and orange leather interior. It’s one of several luxury vehicles in his collection. The Hummer has become a familiar sight around Charlotte. Ball is often seen driving it to and from Spectrum Center.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time a Charlotte athlete has been involved in a car accident. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was in a serious crash in 2014 and suffered two small fractures in his back. Charlotte sports fans breathed a collective sigh of relief when news broke that Ball was uninjured.
Impact on Hornets’ Playoff Push
Ball participated in Hornets’ practice early today. He has been crucial to Charlotte’s recent success. The Hornets have won 10 of their past 11 games and rely heavily on their star point guard, who is averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 assists this season. The team is currently pushing for a playoff spot.
The timing of the accident raised concerns about Ball’s availability. The Hornets are sitting in the play-in position right now at ninth in the East. They can’t afford to lose their best player while also missing two other starters, Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges (suspension), until a Feb. 24 clash against the Chicago Bulls.
Coach Charles Lee hasn’t commented on the accident yet. The team is expected to release an official statement soon.
Thursday’s Game vs. Rockets
Charlotte will face the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, their first game back from the All-Star break. The Rockets are 31-17 but lost to the Hornets 109-99 in the last matchup on February 6th, although all Hornets starters were present that day. The Hornets also benefitted off Rockets playing back-to-back games. Charlotte needs this win to maintain their playoff positioning. Every game matters as they chase a play-in spot.
The game tips off at 7:00 PM at Spectrum Center.
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