NBA Star In Trouble For Allegedly Driving Over Fan's Foot

Former Charlotte Hornets lottery pick LaMelo Ball faces potentially serious legal trouble after a family spoke out, levying allegations that Ball ran over a young man's foot as he tried getting an autograph from Ball during a team event in October.

Ball and the Charlotte Hornets were named in a lawsuit filed by the family of 11-year-old Angell Joseph, who reportedly went up to Ball for an autograph, was denied, and had his foot crushed by Ball's car as it drove away, outside of Spectrum Center in Charlotte. 

CHARLOTTE - LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets reacts in the third quarter during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at Spectrum Center on January 19, 2024. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

According to the family's attorney, they did not take immediate action against Ball because the police report did not provide sufficient information, such as the player's insurance information or name. 

The lawsuit naturally sparked questions about whether the family is trying to squeeze the young, wealthy basketball player. 

"(Angell Joseph, my son) was like, ‘LaMelo, I love you. I love you, sign my ... give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?’" the boy's mother told WSCOTV. "I just seen my son kind of go down and I thought maybe he had dropped something."

The mother, Tamaria McRae, shared that her son went through physical and emotional turmoil.

"This is his hero, his idol, and he got run over by him," the family's lawyer, Cameron DeBrun, shared.

The family is suing the Hornets for not properly ensuring fans' safety at the team event.

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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