LaMelo Ball, the 23-year-old star point guard for the Charlotte Hornets, was so startled by a mechanical Halloween clown that he knocked its head off.
Public footage of Ball's reaction has gone viral on social media, and the NBA star has become the butt of jokes for having a low fear tolerance.
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After practice at Spectrum Center on Thursday, Ball was seen walking through a doorway singing, when a hidden mechanical clown began moving his arms, causing Ball to jump and scream.
He responded by slapping the clown on the head.
Tim Walz says he had a shotgun in his car to hunt pheasants after soccer practice.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball reacts after becoming upset during a play during the second half of NBA basketball vs. the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
As he begins to climb the stairs, Ball steps back and slaps the clown again, knocking the clown's head completely off his body.
Then Ball started laughing as he climbed the stairs and said, “Well, it's still early.'' Ball and the team personnel walking behind him continued to laugh, and eventually the point guard jokingly fell to the ground on the steps, clutching his chest and saying, “Feel my heart!”
Fans mocked the Hornets' young star on social media.
One user used the clip to not only make fun of Ball, but also his eccentric father, LaVar Ball. Ball has become synonymous with headline-grabbing statements and interference in the NBA careers and sports brands of his three sons, LaMelo, Lonzo and LiAngelo. big baller brand. ”
“If you grew up with LaVar, you'd think they wouldn't be influenced by clowns,” a user named Jess Haney wrote in a reply to X.
One user used the video to reference Ball's extensive injury history.
“Be careful, you might hurt him with this prank,” a user named JBond wrote on X's post.
Another user named mocked LaMelo's punch.
“Just look at his swing and you can tell he can't fight for himself,” a user named Clemson Addict wrote in another X post.
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#1 LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles up the court during the first quarter of a game against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center on October 10, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Ball is averaging 28.5 points, six rebounds, and seven assists on 43.9 percent shooting for the Hornets. Charlotte had 19 points and six assists in a 138-133 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
The Hornets will face the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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