LaMelo Ball Press Conference
LaMelo Ball speaks at a Feb. 19 press conference.
NBA star LaMelo Ball opened up about the car crash that he was involved in while addressing reporters at a Feb. 19 press conference
The 24-year-old Charlotte Hornets star said that was "alive and blessed" after the crash, which saw him allegedly collide with another driver while leaving practice on Feb. 18
Ball was not injured in the crash, but his car did take some damage and reportedly lost its left front wheel in the collision
LaMelo Ball addressed the car crash that he was involved in during a press conference after the most recent Charlotte Hornets game.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the 24-year-old NBA star spoke to reporters following the team's 105-101 loss against the Houston Rockets.
After answering questions about the team's performance, Ball was asked about the two-car crash he was involved in after practice in uptown Charlotte, N.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 18. According to reporting by the Associated Press and WSOC-TV, the athlete's custom camouflage-colored Hummer clipped a Kia sedan while trying to execute a left turn.
When first asked about the accident, Ball said, "Fortunately, everybody is cool, so blessings. God is great."
A member of the press asked Ball about the driver of the other car, who was reportedly "treated for non-life-threatening injuries" at the scene, per The Charlotte Observer.
"I seen her get straight out of the car," he said of the other driver involved.
Addressing the 24 hours between the accident and his return to the court for a game, he said, "I'm just alive and blessed, for real. God is great, like I said."
Sports Illustrated reporter Sean O'Connor denied allegations that Ball cut the interview short after talking about the crash.
"That’s not what happened. The press conference ended and he left. He answered multiple questions about the accident and then left after it was announced that we were done," he wrote in a post shared to X.
NOVEMBER 19: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
NOVEMBER 19: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
NBC Sports corroborated O'Connor's reporting, writing that those present confirmed he'd left the room after the conference was called to a close by a member of the Hornets' PR team.
"It is common at these post-game press conferences for some journalists to still have questions when the team representative ends it," the outlet noted.
Ball was reportedly uninjured after being involved in the accident, which seemingly took place shortly after he was leaving a Hornets practice. The front left wheel of his car came off as a result of the accident.
The Charlotte Sun reported that Ball left the scene of the crash with police permission. He was reportedly picked up by his teammate Brandon Miller and received support from a Hornets security staff member.
JANUARY 5: Lamelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on January 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
JANUARY 5: Lamelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on January 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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NBC reported that a police report for the accident has not yet been made public.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department told PEOPLE that a public report will not be released "as there was no criminal component in this case."