LaMelo Ball Trash-Talking Clippers Star Justise Winslow Backfired

LaMelo Ball is one of the NBA’s most intriguing young players, because of his unwavering belief in his own ability. He was drafted third overall by the Hornets in the 2020 NBA draft and was crowned NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021. However, he tried to trash-talk against Los Angeles Clippers and it backfired.

Charlotte Hornets are currently 28-24 in the league and recently lost against a struggling Clipper side. The Clippers have a winning% of .500 this season so far and recorded an important 115-90 win over the Hornets in their own backyard. However, one incident made it to the headlines after the game. LaMelo Ball trying to trash-talk against a Clippers forward.

Clippers forward Justise Winslow, during the first half, blocked Ball’s jumper and stared him down. Following the block, Winslow claimed that Ball was talking trash to him after the game.

LaMelo Ball trash-talks with Justise Winslow

“He kinda was just like, ‘Don’t poke the bear’ thing. Melo was like, ‘I’ll go get 10 in a row.’ And I was like, ‘Go do it then.’ … I have a lot of respect for him he’s a hell of a player … but I needed that block, for sure,” Winslow said after the game.

Ball, who had previously committed to UCLA, was no longer considered a legitimate NBA prospect owing to his inability to play with Preinai, which tarnished his image. Ball was a five-star prospect who decided to forego college basketball due to eligibility difficulties and play in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks in 2019, winning NBL Rookie of the Year.

Since they were in high school, Ball and his siblings have gotten national notice. In 2017, his father, LaVar, became a media figure as well.
Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham, as well as sophomore players LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, were chosen to the player pool for the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars during All-Star weekend in Cleveland.

LaMelo Ball vs Lonzo Ball

After tonight’s loss against the Celtics, the Charlotte Hornets’ record fell to 28-24. They also take a day off before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following that, they face three more difficult home games against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Chicago Bulls before returning to the road.