Nearly a month into the NBA season, LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets are off to another rough start at 3-7. Ball is averaging career-highs in turnovers and fouls, plus his scoring is slightly down from last season, at 22.2 points per game.
There are 72 games to go for the 22-year-old, meaning he and the Hornets have plenty of time to get back in the competitive picture in the Eastern Conference. Yet, while the team has had its fair share of on-court struggles, Ball has also reportedly been fighting another battle off the court with the NBA.
Those with a keen eye may have noticed Ball covering up one of his tattoos in recent action, which is apparently due to a request from the league office.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA is mandating that Ball cover a tattoo located just below his left ear. Why?
The Association insists the design violates rules against displaying commercial logos on players’ bodies. Yet, sources close to Ball suggest the NBA hasn’t exactly been consistent with the enforcement of said rules.
As to the tattoo, it reads “LF”, which is LaMelo Ball’s middle name, but it is also the name of his clothing brand.
This isn’t some sudden development. The NBA and Ball have been discussing the matter for the past few weeks, which led to Ball covering it up before Tuesday’s matchup with Miami tipped off. Had Ball not masked the tattoo, sources say the former Rookie of the Year would be subject to fines instead.
Ball may be finding creative ways to cover it up for now, but the league and his representatives are still trying to find a long-term solution to the unique situation.
Here’s what an NBA spokesman had to say about the whole fiasco.
“Per the (Collective Bargaining Agreement), players are prohibited from displaying commercial logos or corporate insignia on their body or in their hair during games. We try to enforce the rule reasonably, in accordance with its purpose, and taking into account players’ efforts to express themselves in a non-commercial manner. But LaMelo Ball’s neck tattoo is in obvious violation of the rule and, accordingly, he’s required to cover it.”
NBA spokesman Tim Frank on LaMelo Ball’s tattoo
Some may recall past incidents where players have seemingly had major branding tattooed on their bodies, but the NBA contends those situations were different since they didn’t also have endorsements through those companies too.
LaMelo’s odd scenario certainly seems rare, but not for the Ball family, after older brother Lonzo was required to mask his Big Baller Brand tattoo in 2018.
The Hornets’ next game tips off tonight at 6 PM ET, when the Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to Spectrum Center. Expect Ball’s tattoo to be covered up in some type of way once again, otherwise, as the NBA says, more fines will come.
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