A North Carolina mother is suing the Charlotte Hornets and NBA star guard LaMelo Ball, claiming Ball struck her son with his vehicle while attempting to get an autograph.

The LaMelo Ball lawsuit, filed Tuesday and obtained by ESPN, details the incident that occurred in early October 2023 at the Spectrum Center during a fan event called "Purple and Teal Day at the Hive."

After the event, Tamaria McRae's then-11-year-old son, Angell Joseph, was outside the arena's employee entrance when Ball's SUV exited.

As Ball stopped at a nearby traffic light, fans, including Joseph, approached his vehicle.

McRae alleges that Ball drove forward suddenly when the light turned green, hitting her son and causing severe injuries.

McRae's attorney, Cameron DeBrun, stated that Joseph suffered foot and back injuries.

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Claims and Legal Actions

McRae claims the incident caused severe physical and emotional distress for her son, who idolized Ball.

She is seeking damages exceeding $25,000. The Hornets declined to comment, and Ball's agent did not respond to requests for comment.

According to WSOC-TV, McRae was with her son at the Spectrum Center fan event in October.

As the event ended, fans approached players as they left. Joseph reportedly asked Ball for an autograph, but Ball allegedly accelerated his vehicle, running over Joseph's foot and breaking it.

Specific details of the injury remain unclear, but McRae described the recovery process as challenging, according to Yahoo! Sports.

DeBrun mentioned they would have filed a claim with Ball's insurance, but the police report lacked key information, leading to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also includes the Hornets, as the incident occurred at their event, citing inadequate security and pedestrian control measures at the employee exit.

The LaMelo Ball lawsuit was filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court.

NBA Star LaMelo Ball's Career and Injuries

Ball, who played only 22 games last season due to an ankle injury, still managed a career-high average of 23.9 points and eight assists per game.

He recently signed a five-year, $204 million contract extension with the Hornets, beginning this fall, Bleacher Report note.

McRae recounted her son's admiration for Ball and the moments before the alleged incident.

She stated that she initially thought Joseph had dropped something when Ball's vehicle struck his foot.

DeBrun emphasized that without the necessary details in the police report, suing Ball and the Hornets was their only option.

The lawsuit argues that the Hornets should have implemented better safety measures to protect fans near the players.

Injuries have limited Ball to 58 games over the past two seasons, affecting his promising career that began with a Rookie of the Year award in 2020-21 and an All-Star selection the following season.

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Written by: Ross Key

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