"Like the dog pisses on the floor": LaMelo Ball unbothered by trade rumors, highlights life's real problems

Modified Apr 15, 2025 15:20 GMT

NBA: New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets - Source: Imagn — LaMelo Ball unbothered by trade rumors, highlights life's real problems (Source: Imagn)

Following another disappointing season with the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball has seen his name in trade discussions. In the midst of all this outside noise, the All-Star guard gave a blunt response when asked if it bothers him.

The Hornets ended the 2025 campaign with the NBA's third-worst record at 19-63. With their rebuild seemingly going nowhere, speculation has come about on whether the team should move their star guard and start their rebuild over. Following his exit interview on Monday, Ball faced questions about hearing his name in such debates.

LaMelo Ball openly said that things like trade rumors don't get to him. Instead, it's everyday real-life problems that can bother him on a daily. One example of this he stated was his dog going to the bathroom inside the house.

"That don't bother me," Ball said. "Bothering me is like stuff throughout the day. Dog piss on the floor or something, that s*** bother me. Little stuff like that.

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Telling me to go somewhere and do this, nah."

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When on the floor, LaMelo Ball is one of the top point guards in the NBA. The issue is that he's struggled with availability in recent years. This season marked the third straight time he failed to play in at least 50 games. In the 47 appearances he did make, Ball averaged 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

Ball is signed with the Hornets long-term, just kicking off his five-year extension worth over $200 million. Between his injury concerns and the Hornets' failure to get out of the basement of the East standings, there is no telling if they'll consider making such a drastic change this offseason.

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

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Edited by Kevin McCormick