Ball-Adebayo tripping play demands justice. Here are some (unserious) ideas
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Bam Adebayo was in a lot of pain after the tripping incident. Photo: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
The NBA says the tripping incident that injured Heat star Bam Adebayo during Tuesday's play-in game against Charlotte should have resulted in an ejection against Hornets star LaMelo Ball.
Why it matters: It didn't. Ball kept playing and hit the game-winning shot. With their best player out, Miami lost. Their season is over.
- This isn't the first time Ball — who has apologized for what he said was an accident — has tripped Adebayo. (Remember this play from 2024?)
So, in the spirit of justice (and to distract ourselves from the Heat's own recent struggles), we've come up with some completely unserious punishments the NBA might consider to make things right.
83 or bust
LaMelo Ball must score 83 points in Friday's pivotal play-in game or the Hornets lose. If he can't match Adebayo's historic scoring performance from last month, no playoffs for you!
A stinging rebuke
Ball must endure 305 hornet stings. You really love these insane bugs? Pucker up, Miami style!
Battle Miami traffic
Ball, whose questionable driving habits would make him feel at home in Miami, should be forced to endure traffic going from Miami Beach to Broward during Art Basel weekend.
- Never mind, that may be a punishment for everyone else.
Spoelstra tat
Ball should tattoo Erik Spoelstra's angry face on his arm to make him think twice about tripping anybody ever again.
- After the game, a livid Spoelstra said Ball's actions don't belong in the NBA.
- "Somebody has got to see that, and he should have been thrown out of the game for that."
Wade vs. Purple Shirt Guy
Set up a celebrity boxing match between Dwyane Wade and Purple Shirt Guy, the die-hard Charlotte fan who got embarrassed by Wade in the 2016 playoffs.
- Winner's team automatically advances to the playoffs.
Reality check: In all seriousness, these are just jokes from a salty Heat fan.
The other side: Ball apologized after the game and said he would check on Adebayo to make sure he was OK.
- "I got hit in the head. Didn't really know where I was."
The bottom line: Adebayo addressed the play on Thursday, saying, "Everybody's gonna have their opinion on it."
- "Nobody's really gonna know the truth but LaMelo if it was dirty or not."