Tag: LaMelo Ball

Biggest snubs from the NBA All-Star Game reserves, including LaMelo Ball

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will not have LaMelo Ball and Luka Doncic.

We already knew the 10 starters who will appear in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. But now we know the reserves who will join them as well.

Those who were snubbed from making an appearance in the starting lineup (which was chosen by fans, media, and players) had a chance to represent their conferences in San Francisco by earning a selection from NBA coaches.

Some deserving players including Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cade Cunningham, and Evan Mobley all got some love.

Unfortunately for the following players, however, these players did not get the nod. They could still get a call as alternates, however, if they are chosen by the commissioner should one or more player get hurt before the NBA All-Star Game on February 16.

Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball is the biggest surprise considering he led fan voting among players at his position in the East and he finished third among player voting. He had a much stronger voting from fans than media, though.

Meanwhile, Dallas star Luka Doncic finished third among fans among West guards and fourth among media members. His teammate, Kyrie Irving, was fourth among players and fourth among fans.

Here are the most notable snubs, sorted based on voting results:

  • Ball, LaMelo (CHA)
  • Doncic, Luka (DAL)
  • Irving, Kyrie (DAL)
  • Banchero, Paolo (ORL)
  • Young, Trae (ATL)
  • Morant, Ja (MEM)
  • Maxey, Tyrese (PHI)
  • Fox, De’Aaron (SAC)
  • Wagner, Franz (ORL)
  • Allen, Jarrett (CLE)
  • Embiid, Joel (PHI)
  • Sabonis, Domantas (SAC)
  • Booker, Devin (PHX)
  • Powell, Norman (LAC)
  • Bridges, Mikal (NYK)

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NBA All-Star voting takeaways: LaMelo Ball got more love from fans than the media

Fans like LaMelo Ball far more than the media.

The starting lineups for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco were unveiled and we learned some interesting notes in the process.

There were a few notable snubs from the starting five (including LaMelo Ball) and those players will have to earn an All-Star nod based on voting from coaches in their conference.

But the NBA is incredibly transparent about how the decisions were made. Each score is weighted based on 50 percent for the fan vote, 25 percent for the player vote, and 25 percent for the media vote.

The league office releases exactly how many votes each player received from the fans, other players, and select media.

We separated the publicly-available data and isolated how every player in the league performed in each category using the number of votes received rather than rank. Then we sorted results using standardization to determine where individuals performed better than they did in other categories.

One interesting takeaway is that the biggest difference was how much voting Ball for from fans relative to how little he got from the media. You can read more about this from Stephen Noh on Sporting News. Ball finished with the most among East guards by fans but seventh by media.

If he had received two more votes from media he would have earned a spot in the starting lineup.

Otherwise, the largest difference in the results was how much voting Kevin Durant received from other players compared to how little he got from the media.

He ranked second among West forwards by his fellow peers and fifth by the media. His tenuous relationship with the media is well-documented but he is someone who clearly has the respect of his NBA colleagues.

On the other hand, however, another significant difference was the love that Donovan Mitchell got from the media compared to the fans. Perhaps there is simply not a strong voting presence in the small market of Cleveland, but the media helped Mitchell secure a spot in the starting lineup.

Stronger voting from players than media

  1. Kevin Durant (PHX)
  2. LeBron James (LAL)
  3. Evan Mobley (CLE)
  4. LaMelo Ball (CHA)
  5. Trae Young (ATL)
  6. Paolo Banchero (ORL)
  7. Jaylen Brown (BOS)
  8. Kyrie Irving (DAL)

Stronger voting from players than fans

  1. Evan Mobley (CLE)
  2. Jalen Brunson (NYK)
  3. Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
  4. Darius Garland (CLE)
  5. Devin Booker (PHX)
  6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
  7. Trae Young (ATL)
  8. Joel Embiid (PHI)

Stronger voting from fans than media

  1. LaMelo Ball (CHA)
  2. Kevin Durant (PHX)
  3. LeBron James (LAL)
  4. Paolo Banchero (ORL)
  5. Luka Doncic (DAL)
  6. Damian Lillard (MIL)
  7. Kyrie Irving (DAL)
  8. Jaylen Brown (BOS)

Stronger voting from fans than players

  1. Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
  2. Luka Doncic (DAL)
  3. Damian Lillard (MIL)
  4. Anthony Davis (LAL)
  5. LaMelo Ball (CHA)
  6. Alperen Sengun (HOU)
  7. James Harden (LAC)
  8. Jimmy Butler (MIA)

Stronger voting from media than players

  1. Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
  2. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)
  3. Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
  4. Jalen Brunson (NYK)
  5. Jayson Tatum (BOS)
  6. , Anthony Davis (LAL)
  7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
  8. Nikola Jokic (DEN)

Stronger voting from media than fans

  1. Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
  2. Jalen Brunson (NYK)
  3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
  4. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)
  5. Jayson Tatum (BOS)
  6. Nikola Jokic (DEN)
  7. Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
  8. Anthony Edwards (MIN)

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LiAngelo Ball somehow turned 10 seconds of his song Tweaker into an $8 million record deal

Gelo just got PAID.

By now, you have probably heard the hit song “Tweaker” by LiAngelo Ball more than a few times. For some of you, it may be far more than that.

But you may need to get used to hearing songs by LiAngelo, the older brother of Charlotte guards LaMelo Ball and younger brother of Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, far more often.

WHOA-OH! The Tweaker memes are so good!

Following the tremendous success of “Tweaker” last week, Gelo has reportedly signed a massive deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, his label “Born2Ball Music Group” is now a part of the larger labels.

Ball will get $8 million guaranteed, per Charania, and could earn up to $13 million on the licensing deal as an advance on future royalties. He will likely not get the lump sum upfront.

The former high school basketball star will retain “full ownership” of his music and his record label.

This is fantastic, exciting news for LiAngelo and his family. The song is legitimately good, although even the biggest fans would likely agree that it is mostly successful for the 10-second period when he sings “I might swerve, bend the corner, whoah-oh-oh” more than anything else.

Catchy though it may feel, it is unclear whether or not Gelo can replicate that success on future tracks. If he can, this is a wise investment for Def Jam and UMG.

If not, however, it could end up as a very expensive risk for the long-term.

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Here is why Lonzo Ball got a credit on LiAngelo Ball’s song Tweaker

Zo said he did NOT write the lyrics for Gelo.

In an unexpected twist of fate, former high school basketball star LiAngelo Ball has what is arguably the most popular song of 2025 so far.

LiAngelo, the older brother of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and younger brother of Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, has inspired so many great memes with his catchy new track “Tweaker” as it has become a viral trend.

Lonzo was caught dancing to the song in the Bulls locker room as it has swept through the entire professional sports world. However, while he got a credit on the song, Lonzo wants everyone to know that all the love should go to LiAngelo.

According to Lonzo, the only credit he deserves is for the cover art.

Lonzo had his own music side project, releasing the album Born 2 Ball as Zo.

LiAngelo will perform at the hip-hop festival Rolling Loud in Los Angeles.

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LiAngelo Ball has a hit new song that has fans nostalgic for the early 2000s

Gelo might swerve, bend the corner, whoah-oh-oh.

Former high school basketball standout and Facebook reality show star LiAngelo Ball is not the first musician that I expected to write about in 2025.

LiAngelo, the older brother of Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and younger brother of Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, earned the coverage though.

While he had a great high school tenure his collegiate basketball career did not work out at UCLA. He had a few legitimate attempts with the Hornets in training camp and the G League, a brief look from the Pistons, and some flirtatious overtures from the Lakers.

But his basketball career never took off in the NBA, either. Fast forward a few years, though, and LiAngelo has made some waves in a different way. (Caution: The following song contains lyrics that might not be safe for work. It might also get you bopping your head, though.)

Now a musician who wraps under the name G3, his latest track “Tweaker” is legitimately good.

Already played in NBA locker rooms (including the Bulls and Cavs) as well as NFL locker rooms (including the Lions), this song has garnered more than 2.7 million listens on YouTube since it debuted on WorldStarHipHop.

It is the number one trending song on YouTube music (ahead of artists such as Tyler, The Creator as well as Lil Baby, Bad Bunny, and Drake).

There is a deeply nostalgic feeling to this track that is reminding many listeners of what hip-hop sounded like in the early 2000s, which is one of the reasons it is such an immediate hit.

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Lonzo Ball thinks his dad’s Big Baller Brand sneakers may have led to his knee injuries

Lonzo Ball thinks it’s a possibility that LaVar’s brand caused some damage.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has a complicated injury history that has made his professional basketball career increasingly difficult.

While he eventually resumed his time in the NBA after missing more than 1,000 days and immediately drained a 3-pointer upon his return, the details surrounding his injuries sounded gruesome.

We will never know why the former No. 2 overall pick had such a tough time with his knees. But during a recent feature by Ramona Shelburne and Jamal Collier, he was asked if wearing his family-owned Big Baller Brand played a role (via ESPN):

“I think it’s a possibility for sure, to be honest with you,” Ball said. “I wasn’t really getting hurt like that until I started wearing them.”

During the conversation, Lonzo admitted that he was interested in wearing Adidas.

He added that he was told that “nobody” wanted to partner with him, so he decided to just wear the brand. However, he described them as like “kickball” shoes.

While the brand eventually had Skechers manufacture the sneaker, Ball “wasn’t happy” with those either. He also wondered if perhaps playing on concrete while running sprints in Chino Hills played a role in his cartilage issues as well.

“I don’t feel like I would be where I’m at if I didn’t do all that stuff,” Ball said. “All the work that we put in, it could have hurt, but it also made us who we are. “

Even though he is not sure any of this was good for his knees, it is at least encouraging that Ball does not have any regrets about his decisions.

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Lonzo Ball received love from his brother LaMelo after playing his first game in almost 3 years

LaMelo tweeted his full support for Lonzo.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball returned to the court after missing more than two NBA seasons and he looked great.

Lonzo, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, could provide a major spark to the Bulls if he returns to form this season. While he received a game ball and a standing ovation, he also got plenty of love from players in the league as well.

LONZO BALL: An NBA player should not look this good after missing nearly 3 years

That includes a shout out from Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton as well as his youngest brother, LaMelo Ball, who is one of the top young players in the NBA.

LaMelo showed some major respect for his oldest brother, Lonzo. The two will play against each other on December 30 in Charlotte and then January 17 in Chicago.

They will have two more games against each other later in the season as well.

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2024-25 Charlotte Hornets: A quick preview

Last season, the Charlotte Hornets struggled without their offensive leader, LaMelo Ball, leading to a disappointing campaign. However, the team enters this year with a projected win total of 30.5, a significant improvement from their previous two …

Last season, the Charlotte Hornets struggled without their offensive leader, LaMelo Ball, leading to a disappointing campaign. However, the team enters this year with a projected win total of 30.5, a significant improvement from their previous two seasons (21 wins in 2023-24 and 27 wins in 2022-23). This summer, they hired Charles Lee, who many considered to be one of the top upcoming head coaches. Then, the Hornets focused on upgrading their roster and acquiring valuable draft assets. They re-signed Miles Bridges to a three-year, $75 million deal, traded for Josh Green, and selected Tidjane Saluan and KJ Simpson in the draft.

While the Bridges signing was notable, the key moves came from a series of trades that provided Charlotte with much-needed flexibility. Despite being over the salary cap, the Hornets managed to acquire Green, all while adding seven second-round picks in the process. The Hornets acquired three of those second-round picks along with DaQuan Jeffries, Charlie Brown, and Duane Washington Jr. to help facilitate the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves’ trade of Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

The team’s improvement largely hinges on the health of Ball, who played only 21 games last season but was the team’s leading scorer with 23.9 points and 8 assists per game. His return is the primary source of optimism, as the offense will once again revolve around his playmaking. Brandon Miller, named to the All-Rookie 1st Team after averaging 17.3 points per game, adds another key element to their offensive firepower. On the defensive end, Bridges and Mark Williams form a solid defensive presence, although Williams is currently sidelined with a strained tendon.

LaMelo Ball buys Cam Newton’s Charlotte condo, rides go-kart on roof

When you buy Cam Newton’s condo for $2.47 million, you better be able to take a go-kart to the roof.

Big ballers do big baller things, and LaMelo Ball is a big baller.

The Charlotte Hornets star just closed in on a pretty high-profile piece of property, purchasing a 3,300-square-foot condo in Uptown’s exclusive Trust building for $2.47 million. But it’s not only the space, the apartment and the price that makes this an interesting purchase—it’s also the previous owner.

Mecklenburg County property records show that Ball’s MB1 Enterprise completed the transaction with Agape Property Management Group LLC, headed by Cecil Newton. And yes, that’s the very Cecil Newton you probably think it is.

Ball’s new(ish) digs were previously inhabited by Carolina Panthers great Cam Newton. Newton purchased the property for $2.1 million back in 2015, the same year he signed a five-year, $103.8 million extension and dabbed his way to a near-unanimous Most Valuable Player award.

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, Ball began leasing the apartment in 2020 with a “handshake agreement” that he’d eventually buy it. Well, he did, and it seems like he’s getting his money’s worth already . . .

Oh, and that’s not the last fun tidbit about the property—as some guy named Michael Jordan also lived in that same building.

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LaVar Ball blamed LaMelo’s injury problems with the Hornets on Puma’s ‘raggedy shoes’

LaVar is back like he never left.

It’s wild that LaVar Ball was seemingly everywhere back in 2017 and 2018. But I must give him credit — he’s basically avoided the spotlight and controversy since his sons, Lonzo and LaMelo, reached the NBA.

But the outspoken basketball dad could only stay silent for so long. And as both Lonzo and LaMelo have seen promising NBA careers plagued with injury problems, LaVar has taken aim at LaMelo’s shoe supplier, Puma.

In an interview with CBS Sports, LaVar voiced his frustrations with both NBA conditioning programs and the quality of Puma’s basketball shoes. He said via CBS Sports:

“They’ve been trained hard enough? No, no, no,” he says. “Because you condition your body for running and jumping. You’ve got to condition your legs. So that’s why I always have my boys in them hills and running hard in them hills. That will make you run like a deer when you get on that court, so you won’t be getting hurt. A lot of things have to do with them raggedy shoes that Melo be wearing. Them shoes are not made the right way for him. That’s why he keeps tweaking his ankle every single time.”

Lonzo has not appeared in an NBA game since January of 2022 as he’s dealt with chronic knee issues. Lonzo, of course, started his career with a Big Baller Brand signature shoe before distancing himself from the brand amid controversy. LaMelo signed a 10-year deal with Puma in 2020 rumored to be worth $100 million. And despite his All-Star play when available, LaMelo will end his 2023-24 season with just 22 games played and 36 last season.