lamelo ball involved in downtown Charlotte two-car crash, available to play day after collision
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was unharmed after his custom SUV was involved in a two-car crash in downtown Charlotte shortly before 5 p. m. ET. Team and eyewitness details show Ball walked away from the scene and was cleared to be available for the Hornets' next game the day after the collision.
Crash details and immediate aftermath
The collision occurred at the intersection of Trade Street and Tryon Street shortly before 5 p. m. ET when Ball, driving westbound, attempted a left turn onto the one-way Tryon and struck a sedan that was traveling east on Trade. Video from the scene shows Ball exiting his camouflage-colored, custom 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1, which was left on the curb missing a front wheel.
Footage also captured Ball wearing an aqua-colored Hornets hoodie getting into a nearby Lamborghini and being driven away as police officers remained on scene. Witnesses described the driver of the other vehicle calmly exiting and approaching Ball's truck after the impact. A police report had not been immediately made available following the crash.
Available to play the following day — team schedule and context
Despite the late-afternoon accident, Ball was not injured and was listed available to play in the Hornets' next game the day after the crash. The team had practiced earlier that day and was scheduled to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night ET as the league resumed play after the All-Star break.
The timing of the incident — close to the downtown sports corridor — drew comparisons to other high-profile athlete crashes in the same area, but Ball's situation ended without physical harm and with the organization signaling that he would be on hand for game preparations. Team staff moved quickly to confirm his health and status, allowing him to be listed available for the matchup the next night.
The collision adds to a string of vehicular incidents involving professional athletes in the city in recent years, but this event stands out for its quick, on-the-spot resolution and for Ball's speedy clearance to return to team duties. The Hornets will monitor his condition as they prepare for the game and will provide updates on his status through normal team channels if anything changes.
