LaMelo Ball officially dispels rumors! He declares his desire to stay with the Hornets: Claims that I want to leave are false news.

On November 22nd Beijing time, despite the Charlotte Hornets’ poor performance and growing speculation about LaMelo Ball’s future, the team’s core player clearly stated his wish to remain with the Hornets, formally denying recent trade rumors.

“I like it here,” Ball said after today’s practice. “I have nothing else to say, just focused on winning, that’s all. We will keep doing that.”

Hornets head coach Charles Lee emphasized that Ball, who signed a $260 million max contract in July 2023 as the franchise’s first-ever max player, remains a cornerstone of the team. “On both offense and defense, he is an extremely important part of our system,” Lee said.

Previously, Yahoo Sports cited anonymous sources claiming that the 2022 All-Star point guard was increasingly frustrated with the Hornets’ losing streak and open to a trade. Ball clearly disagreed with this report, sharing the news on social media accompanied by a clown emoji, implying the story was false.

Currently, the Hornets hold a 4-11 record. Since Ball joined as the third overall pick in 2020, the team has yet to make the playoffs.

“I never said anything like that, so the source definitely isn’t me,” Ball responded. “That’s fake news.”

Ball said he initially didn’t want to comment on the rumors but chose to speak out because the reports were escalating: “When rumors get too big, you have to step up and clarify. At the time, media like Bleacher Report made it a headline, and I didn’t want it to keep growing.”

In his second season coaching the Hornets, Lee revealed that his working relationship with Ball is very good and expressed pleasure that Ball wants to stay and help build a championship team: “I’m glad to hear his statement because I share many of the same feelings. The communication between me, Melo, and GM Jeff Peterson is very open, and he consistently conveys his desire to grow with the team.”

“He understands what it takes to win and knows the kind of roster the team needs, so I firmly believe he is committed to staying in Charlotte. He’s mentioned many times how much he loves this city and its fans, which is something I’ve heard repeatedly and focus on.”

The Hornets started this season with high hopes, but shooting guard Brandon Miller suffered a shoulder injury in the second game and has been out since.

The 24-year-old Ball has played only 9 games this season due to a right ankle sprain. Although he has returned to the court, his playing time remains limited. Notably, in his first five NBA seasons, Ball has appeared in only 231 of 410 possible games due to recurring ankle injuries, having tried various braces without fully resolving the issue.

So far this season, Ball averages 21.6 points and 9.6 assists per game, but his shooting has struggled, with career lows in field goal percentage (38.5%) and three-point percentage (29.8%).

Even if the Hornets consider trading Ball, potential suitors would face the burden of his massive contract. Ball’s deal runs through the 2029-30 season, with remaining salary exceeding $168 million, including $37.9 million this season.

Ball stresses that his focus is on staying in Charlotte, helping the team overcome difficulties, and building a championship contender: “Every season has its ups and downs; we’re currently at a low point, but a rebound is certain. I still have full confidence in this team and everyone here.”