Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $35,000 by the NBA after making an obscene gesture toward an official during Charlotte’s loss to the Miami Heat. The league announced the penalty soon after, saying Ball’s actions violated conduct standards for players on the court. Expand Tweet

The incident occurred with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s 144-117 defeat in Miami . After being called for a charging foul while driving to the basket, Ball flipped off the referee. He was immediately assessed a technical foul. The frustration overshadowed what had been another strong performance from the Hornets’ top player.

Ball, 24, is off to an impressive start this season. He's averaging 26.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.5 assists while shootin

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